Vaccine Awareness Week in Construction, April 19-23, 2021, is a campaign to raise awareness of the safety, effectiveness, and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination among construction workers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all workers in the United States (U.S.) get vaccinated against COVID-19, as soon as they are eligible, to end the pandemic and help Americans return to their normal lives.

AGC supports the CDC’s vaccination efforts and we are encouraging members to participate in COVID-19 Vaccine Awareness Week. Members should take time to share important information with their staff, trade contractors, partners, and subcontractors about the benefits of vaccination and encourage them to register to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help us all get back to normal.

Why should construction workers get the COVID-19 vaccine?

• COVID-19 vaccination will help keep you from getting COVID-19. All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the U.S. have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19, may also help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19, and may also protect people around you. 

• COVID-19 vaccination is a safer way to help build protection. While getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, experts don’t know for sure how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness.

• COVID-19 vaccination will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic. Wearing masks and social distancing help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, but these measures are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed.

Additional information on the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine can be found at cdc.gov(link is external).

What COVID-19 vaccines are currently available?

Currently, three vaccines are authorized and recommended in the United States to prevent COVID-19:

1. Pfizer-BioNTech

2. Moderna

3. Johnson & Johnson Janssen  (Joint CDC and FDA Statement on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine(link is external))

The best COVID-19 vaccine is the first one that is available to you. Do not wait for a specific brand. CDC does not recommend one vaccine over another. Learn more about the different vaccines at cdc.gov(link is external).

Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe?

Some people may be concerned about getting vaccinated. However, the CDC has confirmed that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. In fact, millions of people in the U.S. have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine. All COVID-19 vaccines being used have gone thorough rigorous safety tests and meet the same standards as any other vaccines. The vaccines are effective at keeping you from getting COVID-19 and may also keep you from getting seriously ill if you do get COVID-19. The CDC recommends you get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible. Additional details on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines can be found at cdc.gov(link is external).

When will I be able to get the vaccine? (New Mexico’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Plan-EN)

The U.S. supply of COVID-19 vaccine is limited, so CDC has provided recommendations(link is external) to federal, state, and local governments about who should be vaccinated first. However, each state has its own plan for deciding who will be vaccinated first and how they can receive vaccines. Please contact your local health department(link is external) for more information on COVID-19 vaccination in your area. Once you are eligible to get vaccinated, you can use VaccineFinder.org(link is external) to find a specific vaccination spot.

What should I do if I am not yet eligible to get vaccinated?

If you are not yet eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine, you can still learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and help to ensure others in your community are vaccinated. According to CDC, here is what you can do now:

• Learn about the COVID-19 vaccination plans in your area. Make a plan for yourself or your family members to get vaccinated when vaccine is available to you.

• Learn more about the new COVID-19 vaccines(link is external) and the benefits(link is external) of vaccination.

• Become a vaccine ambassador by sharing accurate and timely information about COVID-19 vaccines and local vaccination efforts with the people who need it most(link is external).

• Continue to take recommended actions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19(link is external).

I have been fully vaccinated, now what?

People are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or

• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions(link is external) until you are fully vaccinated. 

Based on what the CDC knows(link is external) about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic. Learn more about things you can start doing after you’ve been fully vaccinated at cdc.gov(link is external).

Resources for Communicating Vaccine Information

• Social Media Toolkit
  • AGC-CDC Joint PSA Video Download
  • AGC PSA Video Download
• Toolbox Talk (English PDF | Spanish PDF | English MS Word | Spanish MS Word)
• CDC Essential Workers COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit (English | Spanish)
• CDC Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines (English | Spanish)