Last week, the Biden administration announced that it would ask all federal contractors, like Electric Boat, to comply with new COVID protocols to be issued later this month, including a COVID-19 vaccination requirement. We expect to get more details in the coming weeks about what this means for our workforce, but at this time, these protocols are still under development by the Biden Administration. Electric Boat will not make any changes without first communicating with the EB population.
New cases of COVID-19 and deaths as a consequence of infection with COVID continue to be reported at alarming rates. Medical experts world-wide agree that two of the most effective ways to combat the spread of COVID are the use of masks and vaccination.
At Electric Boat, all employees are required to wear a mask indoors and when unable to socially distance. Please refer to this document, which outlines what constitutes an approved face covering.
All employees are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccine—they are safe, and provide protection against circulating variants of the virus, including the currently prevalent Delta variant. While breakthrough cases of COVID-19 infection have been reported in vaccinated individuals, fully vaccinated people with a breakthrough infection are significantly less likely to develop serious illness than those who are unvaccinated. And, even when fully vaccinated people develop symptoms, they tend to be less severe symptoms than in unvaccinated people. This means that vaccinated people are much less likely to be hospitalized or die than unvaccinated people.
COVID-19 vaccines are available at all EB clinics and pharmacies for employees, as well as in pharmacies and clinics in the communities surrounding our facilities. Dependents of EB employees can receive a vaccination at the EB Family Wellness Center in Groton or at a community location.
Seasonal flu vaccine clinics will soon be available to employees in Groton and Quonset in addition to community locations. Seasonal flu vaccines can be administered simultaneously with or any time before or after the administration of COVID vaccines. We encourage all employees and family members to get vaccinated, and help protect them from the seasonal flu.
Stay Safe,
Dr. Robert Hurley Dr. Susan Andrews
Medical Director, EB Groton Medical Director, EB Quonset Point
