News Release
FOR RELEASE - January 29, 2021
Contact: Jen Wilk, Public Affairs Director, jwilk@aapa-ports.org
(703) 254-7098

American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org

AAPA Urges Governors to Allow Port Workers Access to Early COVID Vaccines

Joint letter to state governors ID’s port workers as high-risk for COVID-19 exposure

Last week, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) urged governors nationwide to prioritize port workers in distribution plans for the COVID-19 vaccine. AAPA, joining with nine other critical infrastructure groups sent a letter to the National Governors Association outlining the urgency of this need. (To view full letter, click here.)

In the letter, industry advocated that authorizing access to Phase 1 COVID-19 vaccinations for essential transportation infrastructure workers will avoid “the potential for supply chain disruptions, delays in vaccine distribution, and further adverse economic impacts, locally, regionally, and nationally.”

The letter emphasizes that the work of transportation infrastructure personnel is essential to the ability of designated “frontline essential workers” to perform their critical functions. Additionally, transportation infrastructure employees operate in conditions that place them at high risk of COVID-19 exposure.

Christopher Connor, AAPA’s President and CEO, noted that “America’s ports and their workforce of more than 650,000 personnel have kept essential goods moving to medical professionals, first responders, vital manufacturing, and retail businesses during the pandemic. Their dedication has ensured continuity at great risk to their personal health.”

About AAPA
Founded in 1912 and recognized as the unified voice of seaports in the Americas. According to IHS Markit’s World Trade Service, combined international sea trade moving through Western Hemisphere ports in 2016 totaled 3.49 billion metric tons in volume and US$3.01 trillion in value. Of that total, ports in Central and South America handled 1.71 billion metric tons of cargo valued at US$941 billion, while North American ports handled 1.79 billion metric tons of goods, valued at US$2.07 trillion. To meet the growing demand for trade, the AAPA and its members are committed to keeping seaports navigable, secure and sustainable.  For more information, visit www.aapa-ports.org. On Twitter: http://twitter.com/AAPA_Seaports