The executive director of the Saskatchewan Trucking Association says the opportunity for truckers in the province to get COVID-19 vaccinations in the United States will be good for business.
“I think this will certainly help keep the free-flowing movement of goods across the border,” Susan Ewart told Gormley on Wednesday. “Our drivers will be vaccinated in North Dakota, and it’s something that we certainly support and are looking forward to getting moving on.”
Ewart says roughly 2,000 drivers will be able to roll up their sleeves for a COVID shot after the Saskatchewan and North Dakota governments signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this week.
“It is those drivers that are regularly long-haul travelling into the U.S.,” she said. “They will need to have their Saskatchewan driver’s licence and have a valid Class 1 licence.”
A number of energy workers who regularly travel across the border for jobs will also be able to get their shots through this program.
The program started Wednesday and will wrap up June 4.
“At the time they get their first vaccination, they’ll book the second appointment,” Ewart said of the truckers. “So they’re going to do the first and second doses.”
Ewart says the clinics will start with doses of the Moderna vaccine.
Right now, one vaccination site is operating at the Drayton rest area in North Dakota. Ewart says the plan is to add a second location next week.