A recent Construction Dive survey of its readers shows 81% of the nearly 300 survey respondents reported at least partial vaccination—an increase from 60% reported in the spring, according to www.constructiondive.com.
Still, only 2% of the readers that have not yet been vaccinated say they plan to get the shots. Those who do not plan to get vaccinated cite religious considerations, health worries and lack of Food and Drug Administration approval for the shots as reasons for their hesitancy.
Respondents reported anxiety about working with unvaccinated employees; about 60% said they are worried about their health because of a lack of vaccinations. Fifty-five percent said they are worried unvaccinated workers could affect the success of their companies.
Sixty-nine percent of readers believe construction workers are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 and say vaccines make sense for those in the industry. Some respondents noted vaccine mandates could become more important as an increasing number of project owners and other clients ask for fully vaccinated workforces. Others were against mandating vaccines, and one respondent gave an example of his company instead offering a financial incentive for proof of vaccination and considering additional masking and testing for the unvaccinated.
