Essential Workers COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit
Information for Employers and Employees
CDC will continue to add more materials to this toolkit. Please check back frequently for updates.
In some states, essential workers already have access to vaccines to help protect them against COVID-19. These vaccines will be available to essential workers across the nation soon. CDC has provided a toolkit to help employers educate their essential workers about this important new prevention tool.
Who is this toolkit for?
This toolkit is designed for employers of essential workers. Essential workers perform duties across critical infrastructure sectors and maintain the services and functions that U.S. residents depend on daily. Examples of the many types of essential workers include police officers, firefighters, and people working in education, child care centers, and grocery stores.
Resources for Employers
What is the purpose of this toolkit?
This toolkit will help your organization educate employees about COVID-19 vaccines, raise awareness about the benefits of vaccination, and address common questions and concerns.
How can I get started?
Coordinate with your Local Health Department
If you are not already working with your local health department, consider reaching out for assistance. The health department’s immunization program can help coordinate vaccination clinics, provide speakers for presentations, and offer other types of expertise.
- Adapt the key messages to the language, tone, and format that will resonate with your organization. You know what works for your employees.
- Customize the template letter and send or email it to your employees to introduce your COVID-19 vaccine educational activities.
- Print copies of the posters and use them as handouts or to hang in highly visible places in your offices, buildings, and other employee locations.
- Organize a COVID-19 vaccine presentation ppt icon[3.7 MB, 16 pages] for your employees and promote it via digital and employee communication channels. If you are able, organize a virtual presentation. If not, organize an in-person presentation following COVID-19 safety precautions. Ask if your local health department can provide a speaker if you do not have a health educator on staff. Distribute copies of the FAQs.
- Continue to educate your workforce via articles, blog posts, and social media posts.
- Invite your employees to wear stickers once they have been vaccinated and post vaccination selfies on social media.
Communicate with Your Employees
Information and Frequently Asked Questions
Use information on these websites to help answer questions about COVID-19 vaccine in your workplace. You can also download the FAQs.
- Download FAQs for employees pdf icon[365 KB, 4 pages]
- Introductory letter: Send this letter to encourage your branches, offices, or units to review and use the toolkit materials.
- Letter to your employees: Customize this letter about COVID-19 vaccination to send to your staff.
- Newsletter content: This short newsletter-style blurb can be widely distributed to share information on COVID-19 vaccines.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Basics (Slide Deck) [4 MB, 16 pages] (also available in Spanish [4 MB, 16 pages]): These basic slides about COVID-19 vaccines are for informational meetings within your organizations. You can use all or part of the set or also include your own organization’s information.
- Key messages: Use these key messages about COVID-19 vaccine to educate your employees.
- Myths & Facts: Accurate COVID-19 vaccine information is critical. Share this credible and accurate information.
- V-safe: Encourage your employees who are vaccinated to enroll in v-safe and get answers to the frequently asked questions about V-safe.
Posters/flyers
These posters/flyers encourage and support community members in their decision to get vaccinated. You can print and post them in your buildings and other community locations.
Essential Worker Posters
Posters to encourage essential workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine. On the job, and at home. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine adds one more layer of protection.
About COVID-19 Vaccines Factsheet
Plain language fact sheet with information on COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccines (shots) are one of the tools we have to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines work with your body’s natural defenses so your body will be ready to fight the virus.
View and Download Factsheet (available in multiple languages)
COVID-19 Vaccine Fotonovela
Use this fotonovela to promote COVID-19 vaccination in your community. This comic-book style graphic tells the story of a daycare worker’s decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
View and Download Fotonovela (available in Spanish)
Printable Stickers
Printable stickers for staff to handout to people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine.
Compatible with full-sheet sticker paper or standard precut 1 2/3” labels.
View and Download COVID-19 Vaccine Sticker (also available in Spanish)
Social Media
These messages and images are for use on various social media channels that your organization uses, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You can use them as-is with the hashtag #SleeveUp or include your own identity.
Sample Social Media Message
- Getting vaccinated is the best protection against getting sick with COVID-19. Visit https://bit.ly/3bP6zSNexternal icon to locate a #COVID19 vaccine site near you.
- You are more than an essential worker; you are essential to your family. Visit https://bit.ly/3bP6zSNexternal icon to find out how to get vaccinated against #COVID19 today.
- You have taken care of all of us. Now it’s time to take care of you. Visit https://bit.ly/3bP6zSNexternal icon to find a #COVID19 vaccine site near you.
- Stay up to date with the facts about the #COVID19 vaccine. Visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines to learn more.
Copy the code below for this “How do I get a COVID-19 Vaccine?” widget:
<div data-cdc-widget="HDFinderCOVIDVaccination" data-theme="theme1" data-widget-max-height="629px"></div><script src="https://www.cdc.gov/TemplatePackage/contrib/widgets/tp-widget-external-loader.js?ac=20210201"></script>
Copy the code below for this “How do I get a COVID-19 Vaccine?” widget:
<div data-cdc-widget="HDFinderCOVIDVaccination" data-theme="theme2" data-widget-max-height="629px"></div><script src="https://www.cdc.gov/TemplatePackage/contrib/widgets/tp-widget-external-loader.js?ac=20210201"></script>
Can I put my organization’s logo on these materials?
You can put your organization’s logo on materials in this toolkit, but you should leave the CDC URL (cdc.gov) on those materials.