The liquor industry continues unabated with efforts to vaccinate workers against Covid-19. This includes liquor giant Distell that how now independently jabbed its employees and their spouses at a vaccine drive attended by Western Cape premier Alan Winde.
“When we officially launched the province’s mass vaccination plan on 17 May, I committed the Western Cape government to ensuring that each resident has the opportunity to receive the vaccine from a safe and conveniently located site,” says Winde.
“This important objective is being achieved through the significant network of vaccination sites we have opened as the public sector, but also by working with and enabling the private sector to play an important role.”
Winde says he is pleased to see a major employer in the province launch a vaccination programme, protecting more residents from severe Covid-19 infection.
The Distell vaccination drive started at the company’s Stellenbosch site, Bergkelder. According to Distell group chief executive Richard Rushton the company aims to speed up the process of achieving herd immunity faster.
Aiming for herd immunity
“Vaccination is the only viable path out of this pandemic that will allow a sustainable return to full economic activity and getting people who have lost their jobs back to work. Every person who gets vaccinated is not only protecting themselves from Covid-19, but also reducing the opportunity for the virus to spread,” he says.
Distell has received accreditation to administer vaccines at five of its sites, including Bergkelder, Springs and Wadeville in Gauteng, Gqeberha and New Germany in KwaZulu-Natal. More than 2 000 employees and 1 000 of their spouses are already registered and eager to get the jab.
The company has also offered to help vaccinate members of the public and is hoping to get permission for this.
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