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COVID Vaccine Information for Flight Attendants

Written by Admin | Feb 12, 2021 6:00:00 AM
Aviation is critical for vaccine distribution, and the people on the frontlines of aviation need priority vaccination. AFA has called on the federal government to set up vaccination clinics at airports to make it easy for aviation workers to access both their first and second doses. This is urgent and we are working with the new administration to make this a priority to protect workers and effectively eradicate the virus.


Aviation is critical for vaccine distribution, and the people on the frontlines of aviation need priority vaccination. AFA has called on the federal government to set up vaccination clinics at airports to make it easy for aviation workers to access both their first and second doses. This is urgent and we are working with the new administration to make this a priority to protect workers and effectively eradicate the virus.

Until there is a federal program in place we need to continue to call on all governors to move essential aviation workers into tier 1b (or equivalent) in line with other non-medical essential workers and essential transportation workers. Please click here and use our simple online tool to send a letter to your governor.

Under the previous administration, state governors were given responsibility for creating vaccine priority tiers. Aviation workers are frontline essential employees, but not every state has prioritized us to receive the vaccine.

Flight Attendants across the country have begun receiving the vaccine. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA will continue to maintain and update this page for aviation workers to find your current vaccine priority and resources to register for and receive the vaccine.

State/District/Territory Aviation Worker Priority Link to Vaccine Portal
Alabama 1-B Alabama
Alaska 1-B Alaska
American Samoa 3 American Samoa
Arizona 1-B Arizona
Arkansas 1-B Arkansas
California 1-B California
Colorado 1-B.3 Colorado
Connecticut 1-B Connecticut
Delaware 1-B Delaware
District of Columbia 1-B.3 District of Columbia
Florida 2 Florida
Georgia 1-B Georgia
Guam 3 Guam
Hawaii 1-B Hawaii
Idaho 1-B Idaho
Illinois 1-B Illinois
Indiana 2 Indiana
Iowa 2 Iowa
Kansas 2 Kansas
Kentucky 1-C Kentucky
Louisiana 1-B.2 Louisiana
Maine 1-B Maine
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 1-B CNMI
Maryland 1-C Maryland
Massachusetts Phase 2, Group 3 Massachusetts
Michigan 1-B Michigan
Minnesota 1-C Minnesota
Mississippi 2 Mississippi
Missouri 1-B.3 Missouri
Montana 1-C Montana
Nebraska 1-B Nebraska
Nevada Varies by County Nevada
New Hampshire 3-B New Hampshire
New Jersey 1-B New Jersey
New Mexico 1-B.C New Mexico
New York 1-B New York
North Carolina 3 North Carolina
North Dakota 1-C North Dakota
Ohio 2 Ohio
Oklahoma 3 Oklahoma
Oregon 2 Oregon
Pennsylvania 1-C Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico 1-B Puerto Rico
Rhode Island Varies by Age Rhode Island
South Carolina 1-B South Carolina
South Dakota 1-E South Dakota
Tennessee 2-A Tennessee
Texas 3 Texas
Utah 3 Utah
Vermont 3 Vermont
U.S. Virgin Islands 1-B USVI
Virginia 1-B Virginia
Washington 1-B.2 over 50 y/o
1-B.4 under 50 y/o
Washington
West Virginia 1-D West Virginia
Wisconsin 1-B Wisconsin
Wyoming 1-B.7 Wyoming


Tips for Flight Attendants Trying to Get the Vaccine

Source: PBS

1. Try lots of sources and locations to see if the vaccine is available.

There is no single, central source where you must go to get the vaccine, though some regions have set up mass vaccination sites. For some with the time and access to transportation, it can be worth driving a farther distance to get the vaccine, too. Check to see if vaccines are being administered by:

  • Your primary care doctor

  • Local pharmacies and grocery stores

  • Your local health department — depending on where you live, it could be at the city or county level.

  • Your state health department

2. Read all the online documentation.

Your state, county, city and health systems should have information about their vaccine processes on their official websites and social media accounts. Keep checking on this regularly, as localities are often changing their guidance.

3. Sign up everywhere you qualify

Some states have not opened up sign-ups to the general public, focusing instead on deploying the vaccine to specific facilities or communities. But for states where you can register, it makes sense to cast a wide net with all the available health systems in your area, in hopes of getting notifications about vaccine supply in your area. For example, a hospital system affiliated with a university or a private health care chain might share updates about vaccine availability.

4. Have all your information ready.

If you’re booking an appointment online or on the phone, you don’t want to waste time looking up your medical history or insurance information or locating your ID. Here are some other factors you may want to raise:

  • The COVID-19 vaccine is supposed to be free, but check with your provider and insurance company if there are any administrative charges for care.

  • Tell your vaccine provider if you’ve had an allergic reaction to other vaccines in the past. The CDC recommends that  if you have a history of allergic reactions that aren’t related to vaccines or injectable medicines, you should still get vaccinated.

  • If you’re getting the vaccine as part of our priority "essential aviation worker" status, have your crew badge ready. Most airlines have distributed vaccine priority letters to help Flight Attendants establish essential worker priority vaccine status. Bring both to your vaccine appointment.  

5. Don’t risk your health scavenging for a vaccine in-person.

While we’re all hearing anecdotal stories of people lucking out getting leftover vaccines or swooping in when someone misses their appointment, it’s not always a smart strategy to wait for extra dosages in-person — especially if it’s indoors with other people in a confined space. That could be counterproductive for your health.

6. If you are capable, help others.

Share information with your flying partners, friends, families and neighbors, and let people know if there are vaccine openings. Ask around for how people got appointments and share accurate information in your own community.

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As the pandemic continues, health experts advise Americans should continue taking other precautions as well, especially amid news that new variants of the virus may be transmitted more easily.