search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • Techos y Más Advisory Board
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
Roofing News

Roofing Contractors and the COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know

By Chris Gray
covid-vaccine-2021

Image by torstensimon from Pixabay.

March 15, 2021

Roofing contractors are among those who can receive a COVID-19 vaccine before the general public, but debates about whether employers should make the vaccine mandatory, and whether contractors want it, are ongoing.

RC has compiled information roofing contractors should know about the vaccine, such as what versions are available and whether contractors can and should legally require vaccines as a condition of employment.

Types of Vaccines and Distribution

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the vaccine is “highly effective at preventing COVID-19” and can help recipients from getting seriously ill if they do catch COVID-19. As of publication, three versions are available in the U.S. — the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The first two versions require two doses taken roughly three weeks apart, while the Johnson & Johnson version only requires one dose.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and Moderna vaccine are reported as being 95% effective at preventing illness from COVID, though trials were conducted before new COVID variants were detected. Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is shown to be 72% effective against preventing all COVID-19 and 86% effective at preventing severe illness due to COVID.

Health experts say that those who want a vaccine should not wait to choose which vaccine they wish to receive. All of them prevent severe illness, which is the goal.

The CDC broke down Phase 1 of its distribution plan into three sub-phases. Priority was given to frontline health care workers like doctors and nurses in Phase 1a. The CDC’s guidelines recommend that non-health care essential workers, like those in the construction sector, would have the vaccine available to them in Phase 1c, scheduled to take place in the first or second quarter of 2021. In late December, the Associated General Contractors of America clarified that the CDC’s Phase 1c guidelines cover all types of construction workers regardless of project or trade.

On March 11, the Biden administration directed all states to make the vaccine available to all adults by May 1.

Construction Workers Hesitant About Vaccine

In a survey from Morning Consult released in February, only 53% of those working in the construction industry indicated they would get the vaccine if it was offered to them. This placed them among the least likely groups to receive the vaccine, with food and beverage being the lowest at 47%.

Nonetheless, industry associations are encouraging people to get the vaccine. During RC's Best of Success Conference in December, National Roofing Contractors Association CEO Reid Ribble said more people receiving the vaccine meant the country could emerge from the pandemic-induced recession sooner.

“The depth of this recession, how bad it’s going to get, is going to be determined now by the availability and distribution of the vaccine, and quite frankly, on the willingness of the American people to take the vaccine,” Ribble said.

There is an incentive to getting the vaccine outside of being protected from the virus. On March 8, the CDC released its first set of recommendations on activities people can safely partake in if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Fully vaccinated individuals can do the following:

  • Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart.
  • Visit with unvaccinated people from one other household indoors without wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart if everyone in the other household is at low risk for severe disease.
  • Refrain from quarantine and testing if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 after contact with someone who has COVID-19.

A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine. As more people are vaccinated, the Biden administration is directing the CDC to provide public health guidance for people as they travel, participate in small gatherings, and go to work and houses of worship.

Vaccine Distribution: Mandatory or Voluntary?

Given this information, construction attorneys have advised that, while employers can legally require vaccines as a condition of employment, it may be more prudent for roofing contractors to make getting the vaccine voluntary.

On one hand, making it mandatory means workers are protected and are less likely to become sick and spread the virus to others. On the other hand, contractors need to consider the ramifications on retention and recruitment as workforce shortages continue to hinder the industry.

“If I was giving advice to a roofing contractor, I would probably say I would encourage it, but I don’t know that I would mandate it unless I’m consistently working in a high-risk type environment,” like hospitals or nursing homes, said Trent Cotney, CEO of Cotney Attorneys & Consultants.

As Philip Siegel of Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Siegel points out, roofing contractors also need to be aware of the legal difficulties of mandating vaccines. Employees may legally claim anything from a disability to sincerely held religious beliefs as reasons for not getting the vaccine. Even if these reasons aren’t presented, employees may resist.

“You may have a group of employees that approach you in a united effort to object to a mandatory vaccine policy. That concerted activity by your employees concerning the terms and conditions of employment is protected activity under the National Labor Relations Act,” said Siegel.

OSHA’s guidelines on how employers and employees can prevent the spread of COVID in the workplace say little about the vaccine, except to recommend that employers make a COVID-19 vaccine available at no cost to eligible employees. It also suggests employers not distinguish between vaccinated and unvaccinated workers by requiring those who are vaccinated to follow protective measures, such as wearing a mask.

“OSHA is updating its guidance to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus and improve worker protections so businesses can operate safely and employees can stay safe and working,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick.

Regardless of whether it’s voluntary or mandatory, Cotney recommended that any workplace vaccination plan be staggered, as employees may experience temporary side effects that require additional time off and create labor shortages if not planned properly.

I Got the Vaccine, What Now?

The CDC recommends that even those who are vaccinated continue practicing COVID-19 precautions when in public or visiting unvaccinated people from multiple households, including wearing masks and remaining at least 6 feet apart.

“Everyone — even those who are vaccinated — should continue with all mitigation strategies when in public settings,” CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky in a written statement.

The goal is to achieve herd immunity, which the CDC defines as when a sufficient proportion of a population is immune to an infectious disease through vaccination or prior illness to make the disease's spread unlikely. Experts estimate around 80 to 90% of the population needs COVID immunity to achieve herd immunity.

KEYWORDS: Adams and Reese COVID-19 face mask legal issues in AEC President Biden roofing industry

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Chrisgray
Chris Gray is the editor of Roofing Contractor and Roofing Supply Pro. He has worked in the fields of journalism and copywriting for nearly 20 years, ranging from local print newspapers to the multi-media promotion of international artists.


Reach him at 248-244-6498 or grayc@bnpmedia.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Columns
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Steep Slope Roofing
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • TAMKO Titan XL Shingles
    Sponsored byTAMKO®

    Built for Business: How Titan XT® Shingles Keep Proving Their Value

  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

Popular Stories

The Home Depot is weighing a bid for GMS. The potential offer would pit the retail giant against QXO Inc.

UPDATE: Home Depot Pushes QXO Out of GMS Pursuit

Brad Jacobs, chairman and CEO of QXO, offers $5 billion to acquire GMS, a major distributor of gypsum and interior building products.

QXO Sets Its Sights on GMS in $5 Billion Offer

Undocumented workers make up 36% of the U.S. roofing workforce, leaving contractors and workers alike especially vulnerable.

Roofing is Left Exposed by Trump’s Deportation Flip-Flop

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • covid-mask-sanitizer

    What You Need to Know About 2022 IRE's COVID-19 Safety and Health Policies

    See More
  • Federal Stimulus Package

    VIDEO: Cotney Construction Law CEO Outlines What Roofing Contractors Need to Know About the Stimulus Package

    See More
  • vaccine-gloves

    What Roofing Companies Need to Know About OSHA's Vaccine Mandate ETS

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • roofingpic.jpg

    Managing the Profitable Construction Business: The Contractor's Guide to Success and Survival Strategies

See More Products
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing