Should Uber and Lyft drivers be among the first people to receive a COVID vaccine? Uber and Lyft think so! Senior RSG contributor Paula Gibbins also shares results from our driver survey about the vaccine, and whether or not most drivers would even get on the road if offered the vaccine early.
On December 3, 2020, Uber submitted a letter to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices regarding phase one of rolling out vaccines for COVID-19.
In the letter, Uber urges the committee to consider rideshare drivers and delivery people to be considered essential workers since they provide services to other essential workers, such as those in the healthcare field.
In part, the letter states:
“Given that vaccine supply will be limited initially, the availability of essential services such as the transportation and delivery services provided by rideshare drivers and delivery people will continue to be critical for the general public as they await the COVID-19 vaccine, and for essential health workers as they carry out work required for the distribution of the vaccine, among other critical health services during the pandemic.”
Do Drivers Really Want to Get Back on the Road?
The question of whether or not rideshare drivers and delivery people are essential workers has been brought up time and again throughout the pandemic. On forums, drivers have been asking it to see if they are allowed to be out on the road past curfews that have been set.
To see if a vaccine will really get drivers back on the road, we conducted a survey. We asked about driving and delivery habits of our readers and if these trends would change if a vaccine were made available, plus if they think drivers and delivery people should be considered essential workers.
It’s obvious that drivers want to be considered essential workers – 82% agreed with that statement.
Of those that chose “Other” one person stated, “If bus drivers, Metro rail conductors, flight attendants are also considered essential workers, then my answer is yes.”
A few who chose “Other” stated that they feel like drivers should be considered employees. It’s hard to interpret what this means in this context, but it might be that if drivers are considered employees, they would have health benefits available to them, and therefore have access to the vaccine when available and access to care when needed.
One interesting result we found in our driver survey: 65% of drivers said they would get back to driving for Uber and Lyft if offered a vaccine today (or in January, depending on the rollout). While some of these drivers are currently driving, not all are.
Having the vaccine would make a difference for some of these drivers, causing them to feel safer about getting back on the road with the (almost) certainty of a vaccine.
As of now, more than 8 in 10 Americans would choose to be inoculated, but only 40% say they would get it ‘as soon as possible’ according to an ABC/IPSOS poll. 44% would choose to wait.
This shows that drivers, if offered the vaccine today, are 65% to 40% more likely to take a vaccine compared to the average American. This is likely because drivers need to work and make money – it makes sense that to get on the road and feel safe, they would choose to take the vaccine.
What Drivers are Saying About a COVID Vaccine
I reached out to a handful of drivers who took the survey to see what they have to say about all of this. A few also elaborated within the survey itself. Here’s what their thoughts are:
One driver from the Chicago area explained, “I don’t feel that unsafe while driving now. I would rather see as many people as possible who are our customers get the vaccine ASAP, so that people can get back working and traveling so that we have more passengers to drive.”
The driver elaborated, by saying we also need to take into account who is spreading the disease (mostly, people going out and about) and how COVID is affecting business. Should businesses and those frequenting businesses also have a stake to claim in the vaccine, since they’re keeping the economy running? As this driver mentions, it’s a contentious ethical and moral question, but something to consider – especially since those are some of the people who take Uber and Lyft the most.
David from Arizona stated, “Two things would have to happen before I would go back to driving people in my car. 1. I would have to be vaccinated and feel safe from contracting Covid. 2. The mask issue has got to the point of where it is not a political issue and that I am confident people would comply with mask wearing. I am hoping, with a change in the White House, that this issue will become less politicized and that we as a people can conform to health guidelines. I am not willing to fight that fight with passengers.”
Several drivers have complained on forums that passengers try to get into their vehicles without masks, and there are videos in the news of passengers lashing out against drivers who enforce the mask policy put in place by both Uber and Lyft.
Jane from Pittsburgh explained, “I’d get the vaccine as soon as possible, but I’m not sure I’d want to take passengers just yet. It would be too much of a concern for a part-time gig. I’ll stick to delivering food for a while.”
When asked to elaborate she stated, “I can’t take the chance of spreading the virus to at-risk clients at my day job.”
One person responded that they do not want to be forced to take the vaccine. She said, “Please do not make us take that vaccine. That’s not American. It is not right. I don’t want to lose my job over it. I do not believe in it. If the makers will not take it themselves and they’re not allowed and they’re not mandatory to take it, why are we taking it?”
To be clear, there hasn’t been anything to say it would be mandatory for Uber or Lyft drivers to take the vaccine in order to be on the platform as of yet.
A COVID Vaccine is Coming
As of late night Friday, December 11, 2020, the FDA authorized the first vaccine for COVID-19 in the United States. It is currently approved for people aged 16 and older. The announcement is to be followed up by the first shipment of 2.9 million doses sent to 636 sites across the U.S.
The initial shipment is meant to go toward front-line healthcare workers, nursing homes and long-term care facilities. However, after two reports of severe allergic reactions in the UK, the FDA advises that the vaccine should not be administered to people who have known allergic reactions to any of the components of the vaccine.
My Opinion on a COVID Vaccine + Rideshare Driving
As someone who has asthma that reacts severely to the common cold, I have avoided driving and going out in public unless necessary. My husband who drives for Uber full time has also avoided driving since March. A vaccine would be a step in the right direction to get us back on the road, but there are still many factors that need to be considered.
We don’t know how long the vaccines are going to last. Will they be a yearly need like for the flu or will they be a one and done vaccine like for the measles?
Should they be mandatory? I don’t like the idea of forcing people to do things they are not willing to do. However, I also think that some vaccines that are mandatory (like for the measles, mumps and rubella) are necessary to keep terrible diseases at bay.
I don’t see why the COVID-19 vaccine would be any different from other required vaccines if it ends up being a one and done kind of a thing or like the flu vaccine that is offered and heavily suggested but not required. And of course, there would always be room for exceptions.
I also don’t think that it should ever be questioned that rideshare and delivery drivers are essential workers. The ones who are actively on the platforms right now are providing food and rides to people who need them. They are driving doctors and nurses and other frontline workers to their jobs. They are delivering food to people who are at higher risk and can’t leave their homes.
Readers, what do you think about rideshare and delivery drivers being among the first to receive a COVID vaccine? Don’t forget to take our survey to share your thoughts!
-Paula @ RSG
