Many within the trucking industry have advocated for commercial drivers to be among the first groups to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. The CDC worked with the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP) to establish several vaccination phases. The two organizations determined the vaccination groups by balancing the loss of life and preserving societal functions. The CDC broke the first phase of vaccinations into three groups with that focus in mind:
- 1a: Long term care facility residents and healthcare workers
- 1b: Individuals 75 and older and frontline essential workers
- 1c: Individuals 65-74, individuals 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions, and other essential workers
The CDC issued phased allocation guidelines further clarifying who qualifies as an essential worker, which includes the following:
- Transportation and logistics
- Food Service
- Shelter & Housing (construction)
- Finance
- IT & Communication
- Energy
- Media
- Legal
- Public Safety (Engineers)
- Water & Wastewater
For most fleets, drivers will fall in the 1c group under the transportation and logistics umbrella.
Many within the trucking industry have advocated for truck drivers to qualify as frontline essential workers to have earlier access to the vaccine. The CDC have noted that there is significant overlap between the two groups. With transportation and logistics at the top of the 1c list, it’s probable that truck drivers will have access to COVID-19 vaccines sooner than anticipated.
Commercial truck drivers have played an essential role during the pandemic and will continue to do so whether they’re delivering food, medical supplies, or the vaccines themselves. Keeping drivers healthy and safe during the pandemic is a top priority for all fleets. Contact the experts at Interstate Motor Carrier to learn how we can help.