Congressman Asks Governor to Prioritize COVID-19 Vaccinations for FI Employees

Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins called on the governor of his state to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for credit union, bank and other financial services employees.

In a March 3 letter to Gov. John Bell Edwards, Higgins noted that no industry can function without the full potential of the financial industry and their essential services.

“I respectfully urge you to include bank, credit union and other essential financial service personnel on the COVID-19 vaccine priority list,” Higgins wrote. “It is critical that the financial workforce can safely get back to work and interact with customers. Financial stability and the re-opening of our economy starts with ensuring that frontline workers can get a vaccine. As bank, credit union and financial service personnel serve the public every day, their services should be recognized as a priority.”

Late last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta recommended that health care workers receive the vaccine first, followed by frontline essential workers such as first responders, teachers and grocery store workers. Employees in finance, legal, IT, transportation and other industries were listed by the CDC as third in line to receive the vaccine.

Louisiana Credit Union League President/CEO Bob Gallman said since the beginning of the pandemic, credit unions have been following directives and recommendations from the governor’s office, the Louisiana Department of Health and the CDC to ensure that the financial industry maintains the highest level of safety for credit union employees and the 1.2 million credit union members throughout the state.