AAPA urges governors to allow port workers access to early COVID vaccines

Last week, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) urged governors nationwide to prioritize port workers in distribution plans for the COVID-19 vaccine.  AAPA, joining with nine other critical infrastructure groups sent a letter to the National Governors Association outlining the urgency of this need. 

In the letter, industry advocated that authorizing access to Phase 1 COVID-19 vaccinations for essential transportation infrastructure workers will avoid “the potential for supply chain disruptions, delays in vaccine distribution, and further adverse economic impacts, locally, regionally, and nationally.”

The letter emphasizes that the work of transportation infrastructure personnel is essential to the ability of designated “frontline essential workers” to perform their critical functions.  Additionally, transportation infrastructure employees operate in conditions that place them at high risk of COVID-19 exposure.

Christopher Connor, AAPA’s President and CEO, noted that “America’s ports and their workforce of more than 650,000 personnel have kept essential goods moving to medical professionals, first responders, vital manufacturing, and retail businesses during the pandemic. Their dedication has ensured continuity at great risk to their personal health.”