Construction Industry Vaccination Status Update New Guidelines Allow Some Construction Industry Workers to Receive Vaccination Under “Emergency Services Worker.” On March 11, 2021, the California Department of Public Health issued Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Guidelines. These guidelines expanded who is eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations under the status of “Emergency Services Workers.” Emergency Service Workers include: Utility Workers (Electricity, gas, water, waste, roads/highways) that provide emergency support. United Contractors counsel has reviewed the new guidelines and believes that by including “electricity, gas, water, waste, roads/highways”, the following categories of construction should now be considered to be emergency service workers:
UCON Member Contractors may want to inform employees who fit these categories that they now are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. NOTE: Vaccination appointments and eligibility may vary between counties as may documentation requirements. Additionally, there is no guarantee that any particular site will have vaccines available or will vaccinate individuals who identify themselves as eligible under the expanded guidelines. Particular sites may not have sufficient supply or may continue to restrict vaccination to specific groups, such as medical workers. Additionally, the agencies or medical care providers administering vaccination programs may interpret the guidelines differently from how United Contractors counsel reasonably believes that they should be understood. UCON continues to work with local and state officials to gain continued clarity on vaccination accessibility for our workforces. How to Help Employees Get Vaccinated: Employers should send a letter suggesting/recommending that employees get vaccinated. Workers can sign up to get notified of when and where to receive the vaccine. Employees should check “Emergency Services” for career sector, if they meet the above definition. Employers who believe their employees qualify under the new emergency services definition should give employees a letter to take to the vaccination clinic (see below for template language), confirming their employment and worker status. Regardless of vaccination status, encourage workers to register for the vaccine. They will be notified as soon as it’s their turn to get vaccinated. We anticipate eligibility guidelines to be further expanded in the coming weeks. Contractors and their teams are encouraged to visit “Roll Up Your Sleeves”, UCON's construction industry vaccine information website to obtain additional resources and tools to encourage vaccination throughout the industry. TEMPLATE VACCINE ELIGIBILITY LETTER: On March 11, 2021, the California Department of Public Health issued updated COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Guidelines. Under the updated guidelines, "Utility Workers (Electricity, gas, water, waste, roads/highways) that provide emergency support” are eligible for vaccination. For example, individuals who perform the following types of work should be eligible under the updated guidelines:
(INSERT NAME OF PERSON) is employed with (INSERT COMPANY), a (INSERT TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANY) and is eligible to receive the COVID 19 vaccine under the updated Vaccine Eligibility Guidelines for emergency service workers. If you have any questions please contact (INSERT PERSON, TITLE & PHONE NUMBER.) Thank you, INSERT NAME UCON Launches “Roll Up Your Sleeves” Campaign to Promote Vaccination Among Construction. A recent study found construction workers amongst the least likely to seek vaccination. Combatting misinformation is key. The single most effective way to increase vaccinations across the industry is to provide fact-based information to help empower workers. Learn more at VaccinateConstruction.com. Stay up-to-date on all relevant information related to COVID-19 by visiting our website. Contact: If you have any questions, please email or call us at (925) 855-7900. |