Vaccinations are proven to help eradicate viruses. Once the outbreak of COVID-19 made its way to the U.S., health officials started pushing for vaccines. Now that FDA-approved vaccines have been available for several months, there has been a push for essential workers to get the shot. Essential workers’ decisions about the vaccine and other mitigation measures can significantly impact the health of their families and friends.
Are Essential Workers Getting Vaccinated?
While COVID-19 vaccines can provide protection against the virus, there are mixed reviews from essential workers. Though plenty of workers have already gotten their vaccines and may be ready for booster shots, there are also many who have elected not to receive the shot at all.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), research has shown that nearly half (48%) of essential workers not in health care were partially vaccinated by mid-March 2021 or planned to get the vaccine as soon as possible.
Though many workers decided to get vaccinated early on, there are still people hesitant to receive the vaccine or planning to refuse it. The KFF study revealed that about 21% of essential workers planned not to get the vaccine, while about 11% of workers said they would only get it if required by their job.
With new mandates created to require COVID-19 vaccinations for essential workers, it remains to be seen if more workers choose to get the vaccine or seek employment with a company that doesn’t require it.
Additional Ways Essential Workers Can Protect Their Families
Whether an essential worker has been vaccinated or not, they should continue taking protective measures to help prevent their families from contracting the virus or other contagious diseases. To prevent the spread of COVID-19 to their families, essential workers should ensure they:
- Disinfect items taken to and from work.
- Shower before interacting with family.
- Change clothes immediately after arriving home.
- Sanitize surfaces and other things they touch frequently.
- Check for symptoms daily.
- Stay informed and up to date with the latest COVID-19 news.
- Improve the ventilation in the home.
- Wear a mask when necessary.
Learn Safety Education With Hazmat School
Following and understanding the safety guidelines instilled by OSHA, DOT and EPA ensure essential workers stay safe on and off the job. When you have your employees take our safety courses, they’ll build the knowledge they need to create a safe environment that reduces the spread of COVID-19, influenza and other seasonal illnesses and mitigates on-the-job safety risks.
If you want to help your essential workers receive the safety training they need, contact us today! We will guide you through our selection of practical learning and training courses.
Manages Hazmat School’s E-Learning courses and blog. Kirstie has extensive experience in the online training and education industry. Kirstie has worked with courses that offer a variety of safety and environmental certifications that satisfy OSHA, EPA and DOT requirements.
