The American Cleaning Institute is arguing that prioritization be given to workers at cleaning product manufacturing facilities when distributing the COVID-19 vaccine.
In a letter sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, ACI said that the people who make cleaning products, hand sanitizer and disinfectants should be included in the first priority group for essential workers receiving the vaccine. ACI’s letter also reminded the committee of the fact that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has labeled the Chemical Sector (of which the cleaning product industry is a member) a “critical infrastructure sector.”
“All segments of society have a role to play to help limit the spread of Novel Coronavirus and protect public health, especially those who are most vulnerable,” wrote ACI President and CEO Melissa Hockstad in the letter. “The cleaning products industry can make a valuable contribution by applying prudent measures to prevent the spread of infection at our sites, while also maintaining production.”