COVID-19 Vaccines Update

This email is intended for all DOL employees.

During the COVID-19 Town Hall meeting on March 11, I mentioned some of the efforts that the Department of Labor

(DOL) has undertaken in regard to COVID-19 vaccine access for employees. We have since received vaccine-related

questions in the email box and wanted to take an opportunity to update you on our

progress.

Vaccine Eligibility Letters

The Department has issued letters to DOL employees who are currently performing essential and public facing functions

on-site. This letter explains that DOL has determined that the individual’s work is consistent with the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Phase 1c criteria “other essential workers,” and should be given priority consideration for

receiving the vaccine. This letter can be provided as documentation to local jurisdictions to establish eligibility for priority

vaccine consideration. We will continue to provide these letters as individuals become eligible through hiring, or a change

in their working conditions, and until all jurisdictions open vaccine eligibility to adults regardless of prioritization.

Vaccine Allocation

I mentioned at the March 11 Town Hall that DOL had requested a direct allocation of vaccines for essential and public

facing employees under the guidelines set forth by the Office of Management and Budget. While we have not been able

to receive a direct vaccine allocation on our own, we have been able to partner with the Department of Commerce to

receive vaccines. Through this partnership, Commerce will obtain vaccines for DOL essential and public facing

employees in the National Capitol Region to be administered by HHS. Information on this vaccine program was sent to

eligible employees last Friday and HHS has begun allowing those employees to schedule appointments for vaccination

at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, MD.

LaborNet Vaccine Information Page

We continue to encourage all employees to get the COVID-19 vaccines, which have been given emergency use

authorization by the Food and Drug Administration, because they are safe and effective and a critical element to

managing the pandemic. The first preferred route for vaccination remains an employee’s local jurisdiction. With that in

mind, we have created a LaborNet page with information about the COVID-19 vaccines and how to find out where to get

one in your state. You can find it here: COVID-19 Vaccine Information and we will continue to update this page as

appropriate.

Impact of Vaccines on Work Status

LABORNET
It has been a long time since we have all been able to work together in-person and we eagerly await that day. However,

we need to remain vigilant and ensure that we are returning to on-site work when we are in the best position to do that

while protecting the health and safety of our employees and the public that we serve. At this time, we are not making any

additional allowances for vaccinated employees. We will continue to monitor recommendations from the CDC and

guidance from OMB and make changes to our policies when appropriate.

This has been a trying year and we should take pride in our ability to effectively accomplish the Department’s mission

despite the pandemic-associated challenges. We will continue to assess health and safety conditions as we look toward

the day when we can all return to the office, even if that return looks different than our pre-pandemic work lives. If you

have any questions, please send them to the email box.

Thank you,

Julia A. Tritz

Director, Business Operations Center

Last updated: April 5, 2021