Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Readiness in the Construction Industry

Together, in just over four months, we’ve seen incredible progress being made in fighting against COVID-19 through nationwide efforts to get Americans vaccinated quickly, efficiently, and equitably. Across the country, COVID-19 cases are down over 90 percent and deaths are down over 85% since January 20, 2021. Nearly 170 million Americans have gotten at least one shot, including 65 percent of all adult Americans. Today, more than 52 percent of adult Americans are now fully vaccinated, including nearly 75 percent of seniors. 

The CDC recommends getting vaccinated as soon as possible due to the level of protection it provides, and with BAC members being busier than ever, it is critical to keep everyone safe at work. Not only do things like working close to others or poor ventilation put our members at risk on the job, but in a study examining the construction workforce, roughly 60% were found to have at least one underlying condition or risk factor, such as heart or lung disease, diabetes, or being over 65, which increased their risk for severe illness from COVID-19.  (https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2021/03/09/construction_covid/). 

“Together, we are protecting ourselves and our communities against the virus,” says BAC Executive Vice President Jerry Sullivan Jr. “Thanks to our members and Local leaders who have taken the vaccines and support on the ground to organize and educate others in their communities, we can see that the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter each day.” 

CPWR – The Center for Construction Research & Training, The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), and university researchers have developed several resources to answer your questions about vaccines (in English and Spanish). Visit https://www.cpwr.com/covid-19-resources/covid-19-vaccine-resources/ for details.