Together We Can End This Pandemic

Life during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been easy, as members of our union have struggled with serious illness and lost friends and family members to this terrible disease.

Now that several COVID-19 vaccinations are approved and vaccination programs are underway, we are making real progress toward reducing infections, illness, and death from the virus.

CWA's Executive Board has done a thorough review of information about the COVID-19 vaccines and has issued a statement strongly recommending that CWA members be vaccinated with an FDA-approved vaccine to protect themselves, their families, their co-workers, and their communities. In addition, the Executive Board supports voluntary vaccination programs and they oppose mandatory vaccination as a condition of employment.

The COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved by the FDA have been thoroughly tested and the test results have been reviewed by an independent panel of medical experts. They have found them to be safe and very effective at keeping you from getting symptomatic COVID-19, or getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19.

The vaccines work with your body's natural defenses so they will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed (this is also called immunity). Experts also think that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may help to prevent mild, asymptomatic COVID-19 disease.

The COVID-19 vaccines cannot give you the disease itself. The vaccines may cause side effects in some people like sore muscles, feeling tired, or mild fever. These reactions mean the vaccine is working to help teach your body how to fight COVID-19 if you are exposed.

Stopping this pandemic for good is going to require all the tools that we have available – staying at least 6 feet apart from people who don't live with you, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, washing your hands frequently, wearing masks, and getting vaccinated.

CWA's COVID-19 information page at cwa.org/covid has been updated with the latest information about COVID-19 safety and vaccination, including links to information about vaccine eligibility rules and the sign-up process.

CWA's Health and Safety Department has created a survey to learn more about members' experience with COVID-19 vaccines. The survey is for all members, whether you have had a vaccination, plan on getting a vaccination, or do not want to get a vaccination. Take the survey at cwa.org/vaccine-survey.

So stay informed, be safe, get vaccinated, and together we can end this pandemic.