Some US states are making vaccines available to foreign seafarers at clinics approved by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
TradeWinds understands foreign seafarers are now eligible for vaccination at a number of clinics at Soo Locks Detroit, Norfolk Virginia, Galveston Texas and Albany New York State.
Ship managers are able to contact the approved clinics prior to arrival in the US and vaccines are administered either at the clinic or directly onboard the vessel.
Ship manager Anglo-Eastern confirmed it has already started vaccinating crew in the US.
Chief executive Bjorn Hojgaard told TradeWinds: “In [the] US, we have in the last few days been able to vaccinate the crew onboard half a dozen ships or so, and we expect to manage another 50 ships calling US ports in the next month, too.
"It’s incredibly important to keep the ships at the lowest possible risk of Covid infections, and the best way to do that is having vaccinated crew onboard.”
US government property
CDC-approved J&J, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are purchased by the US Federal Government and allocated to state providers, which are enrolled with the CDC for distribution.
Vaccines remain the property of the US government until administered and vaccination providers are not allowed to sell vaccines privately.
Some states apply a strict residency requirement on vaccine eligibility while some have opened up the inoculation programme for non residents. It appears that some states are now including seafarers within their own eligibility criteria.
However, protection and indemnity insurer the Standard Club recently warned members to be cautious over the availability of US vaccines while the situation remains unclear.
In a loss-prevention note, the Standard Club said: “Given the varied approaches by the states and the lack of clear published guidance or plans referring to foreign seafarers, the requirements of local health authorities should be consulted to ensure legitimacy and the permissibility of having a vaccine offered to foreign crew members while onboard vessels in US ports.”
The move is an encouraging sign as national governments slowly show willing to vaccinate seafarers. TradeWinds reported previously that Taiwan has extended its own programme to vaccinate seafarers on Genting cruiseships.
Belgium and India also have vaccine programmes in place for seafarers but they are reserved for nationals.
A global vaccination programme at the world’s major ports has been touted as the key to solving the ongoing crew crisis.
