Vaccine Hesitancy in Construction Industry Concerns Medical Experts

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

New study finds construction workers are among the most hesitant to get vaccinated, with nearly half of the industry reporting they most likely will not seek out the vaccine. 

Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh conducted a survey to examine vaccine hesitancy and possible reasons.  

According to the study, researchers found nearly half (46.4%) of employees in the construction/extraction occupation category said they would probably or definitely choose not to get vaccinated if offered a COVID-19 vaccine. The study also found that workers in the installation/maintenance/repair categories felt similarly, with a little less than half (42.6%) claiming they probably or definitely will not choose to get vaccinated.  

Researchers note within the study that the main reasons for vaccine hesitancy were concerns over side effects, a belief that as an individual they do not need the vaccine, distrust in the government or vaccines as a whole and a preference to wait to see if the vaccine is safe.  

This vaccine hesitancy continues to concern medical experts. Associate professor of epidemiology for Pitt’s Graduate School of Public Health and lead author of the study, Wendy C. King is quoted by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) remarking that “vaccine hesitancy is emerging as a key barrier to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying occupations with a high rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and understanding the reasons for this hesitancy can help public health practitioners and the health care community target interventions and address concerns to hopefully increase vaccination rates.” 

Alternatively, the study found that vaccine hesitancy decreased from 27.5% in January to 22.1% in March. These numbers suggest an increase in vaccine acceptance. However, it cannot be stated enough how important the vaccine is as a safer way to build protection and stop the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and the greatest tool we have to stop the spread of the disease.  

Wendy suggests that the study “indicates that messaging about COVID-19 vaccine safety and addressing trust are paramount.” The National Roofing Contractors Association and construction industry partners have already addressed these issues with their COVID-19 Vaccine Awareness Week in Construction April 19-23 to encourage construction professionals to do their part to help end the pandemic. Notably, if the campaign was effective, it would not have been reflected in the study, which concluded in March. 

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