CABS4JABS: How the Trade is Supporting the National Vaccination Effort
Background
Back in March 2020, Conservative MP for Broxbourne, Charles Walker, highlighted the unique position of the taxi trade to support prevention and vaccination efforts throughout the pandemic:
“Purpose-built licensed taxis have a range of features, which make them a more COVID-secure form of transport and ideally placed to assist the Department and local authorities with the vaccine rollout, particularly with regard to reaching the most vulnerable and elderly, as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
Whilst he was talking about black cabs in London, many of the features he refers to are ideal to make taxi travel covid secure. The most obvious of these is the partitioned screen between passenger and driver. This partition means the back of a cab can be treated in isolation and sterilised between journeys.
Not all taxis have these screens fitted as standard, but there are initiatives across the country helping drivers to obtain them. It’s worth looking into in your local area as in some instances the licensing authority has helped subsidise this.
Support for the Vulnerable
It might have taken some time to get here but with the arrival of the vaccine, the trade is on standby to help support the vaccine rollout.
This week Uber announced that they are offering free-trips for those visiting mass-vaccination centres across the country. There is a promo-code that corresponds with each of the 7 vaccination centres and is valid up to a value of £15.
Uber are just the latest in a line of taxi and private hire operators volunteering their services in support of the UK’s vaccination efforts. Operators and drivers across the country have been devising initiatives to provide free or reduced-price services to vulnerable people in need of support.
Veezu, the largest multi-region taxi and private hire operator in the UK, have been offering free services across the country via their regional companies, Go Carz, Dragon Taxis and V Cars. These brands alone account for millions of taxi journeys each year.
Go Carz, based in the West-Midlands are working with Teldoc GP practices to assist with the vaccination efforts for 48,000 people. Dragon Taxis and V Cars are also working with GP practices in their areas. Together they’re helping ensure easy access to the vaccine for vulnerable people across, South Wales and the South West of England.
Another Reason for Taxis to be a Priority
In recent weeks, industry representatives have been lobbying the government to recognise the importance of vaccinations for the industry. In a letter on behalf of several trade organisations, Steve Wright MBE, stated:
“...You will be aware that Taxi & PHV drivers are in the very high-risk category group and that sadly the associated mortality rate ... is extremely high.
Our industry has been asked to support the NHS, nursing establishments, other modes of transport, the elderly, the vulnerable, Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), key worker and educational support transportation.
We do, of course, respect the absolute priority set out in the Independent report by the Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which identifies the priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination (updated 6 January 2021) but wish to add that Taxi and PHV drivers need to be included/added.”
The taxi trade has been supporting the nation's efforts throughout lockdown through various initiatives, from fundraising to transporting NHS staff. This despite probably the worst trading year on record for them.
The trade is integral for the most vulnerable people in our society to be able to get vaccinations in a safe and timely manner. It seems logical that drivers are added to the priority list so they can get out and aid the rollout out of mass-vaccination efforts.
From the free journey and voucher initiatives, we can see the desire to help is there. All that needs to happen is an acknowledgement from the government that the taxi trade is as important as everyone else already recognises.
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