Chennai Customs Brokers Association (CCBA) organised a COVID vaccination camp for its members with Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) SRC at Chennai with the help of the State health department.
While reaffirming that the industry was and is an essential industry and understanding the requirement for physical travel for the staff to attend to clearance work, the vaccination initiative was immediately approved by the state government officials and they deputed a team to come to the premises of CCBA close to Chennai Customs House for the vaccination.
Freight forwarders and customs brokers were declared an essential service and passes were issued for them to attend to EXIM related work even during the peak of lockdown last year, thereby proving that the industry never stopped working through this crisis.
Hence, the representation to administer the vaccine to all the frontline staff over 45 years was approved and arrangements were made to administer the vaccine within 5 working days.
The vaccination drive met with an enthusiastic response from the members of both the associations.
The health officials stated that for the personnel of essential services, any request with a minimum volunteer of 50 or more can be considered favourably and arrangements made for a vaccination camp at an identified location thus avoiding any waiting at public vaccination centers.
This outreach by the state health department can be sought by the Association representing essential services pan India.
Mr Natraja, President, CCBA and Mr J Krishnan from ACAAI-SRC, while thanking the Government Health officials during the vaccination programme, also reiterated how as frontliners of the industry, they will be happy to take more such vaccination drives ahead. If any association approaches them officially with a minimum of 50 volunteers, they will certainly make arrangements to come and administer the vaccination.
Government officials also conveyed their gratitude to CCBA and ACAAI and encouraged more such programmes for the people.
