Inverness taxi firm owners back call for taxi and private hire drivers to be classed as key workers and get the coronavirus vaccine as a high priority
Inverness taxi firm owners have given their backing to a call that private hire drivers should be treated as key workers and be vaccinated as a high priority.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic they were on call to provide transport to health care staff and other key workers as well as delivering supplies to vulnerable people.
Last week taxi and private hire vehicle trade bodies issued a joint call to ministers in the UK government to treat driver vaccination as a top priority.
Gavin Johnston, the managing director of Inverness Taxis, said he felt it was a fantastic idea.
“We are transporting essential workers, people to medical appointments and food deliveries – it’s a must as far as I am concerned,” he said. “We are frontline workers and we have been since March. I totally agree with that because it is essential.”
Andrew MacDonald, who runs Caley Taxi and Black Mercedes, said drivers had to take risks as part of providing a service.
“You can’t social distance at two metres in a saloon car,” he said. “Taxi drivers should certainly be close behind NHS workers and key workers as a priority.”
The joint letter was sent to the parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department of Transport, Baroness Vere, as well as health secretary Matt Hancock and education secretary Gavin Williamson.
It stated: “You will be aware that taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers are in the very high-risk category group and that sadly the associated mortality rate as borne out by Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures is extremely high.
“Not only is there extreme risk for drivers but, of course, the same applies to passengers due to close proximity which, in turn, adds to the risk of onward transmission/super spreading.
“Our industry has been asked to support the NHS, nursing establishments, other modes of transport, the elderly, the vulnerable, special educational needs and disability, key worker and educational support transportation.”
