Marie Watson wanted to be one of the first when she and other key workers became eligible for the coronavirus vaccine – and rightly so.
The maintenance parts purchaser for a Mission Foods tortilla factory in Pueblo, Colorado, lost her father to COVID-19 in the fall and was told by a doctor last year that she almost certainly had the virus herself.
So when her union, the United Food Workers and Commercial Workers, made arrangements for the factory’s 200 workers, she hopped in her car and drove to a nearby drive-thru clinic for the first of two doses.
“There was a sense of relief,” said Watson. “This was more confirmation that I am on my way to becoming normal.”
A growing number of unions and companies are securing photos for their employees as suitability grows. Some large companies like Amazon offer workplace vaccinations through licensed healthcare providers, while smaller outfits book appointments for employees in remote locations.
For employers, the vaccines are a critical step to restore normalcy at a time when they expect a spike in demand for their services as more people are vaccinated. They also bet that workers who initially did not trust the vaccine will change their mind when they see colleagues getting it.
For employees, employer’s assistance with the vaccine eliminates hurdles including transportation issues or maneuvering through a patchwork of websites to find appointments. Such access could help close racial and socio-economic gaps that have been opened in the country’s vaccination urge.
While many vital workers have spent weeks trying to get time slots, Watson got her shot days after Colorado renewed admission to food workers.
Iliana de la Vega, owner of El Naranjo Mexican restaurant in Austin, Texas, said she made arrangements for all 12 of her employees out of gratitude that they stayed with her through shutdowns and capacity restrictions that saved their wages.
Some workers were hesitant at first, but were soon persuaded with the promise of a day off, De la Vega said.
‘Some of them said,’ We’re not sure. ‘I said,’ That’s not an option. Take it or leave it. Who knows when you can get it again? Said de la Vega.
Despite the growing number of companies offering on-site vaccinations, there are signs that some may have lost interest. In March, as the entitlement to vaccines increased and distribution efforts in the US improved, a survey by the consulting firm Gartner found that 30% of companies planned to bring vaccines to their employees. That was down from 42% in January, when distribution was still spotty and getting appointments was still extremely difficult for most people.
“The speed of the rollout has exceeded their expectations, so companies are realizing that they can go into the background,” said Brian Kropp, head of research at Gartner’s human resources department.
Vaccinating employees is also less urgent for a growing number of companies that have permanent home-working policies, Kropp said. While nearly two-thirds of companies plan to reopen their workplaces by the end of this year, the majority say they will let many employees work from home for at least a few days, said Gartner, who surveyed 300 companies.
Nevertheless, leading companies continue to join the list of on-site vaccination providers.
Ford Motor Co. and the United Auto Workers opened on-site vaccinations in Michigan, Kansas and Ohio on Monday. In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine had initially discontinued employment clinics out of concern they would throttle supply, but he allowed them to continue last week when demand at the state’s massive vaccination centers fell.
Amazon launched its highly anticipated on-site vaccinations last month in Kansas, Missouri and Nevada. Warehouse workers and other frontline workers can sign up for photos at newsstands or through Amazon’s employee app.
Yogurt maker Chobani, who employs 2,200 people in the U.S., teamed up with a local pharmacy to vaccinate hundreds of workers at the Twin Falls, Idaho plant, according to Grace Zuncic, the company’s chief people and culture officer.
American Airlines, Subaru, chicken producer Mountaire Farms and farm equipment manufacturer Vermeer are among the 40 companies that have brought vaccines to their employees through partnerships with Premise Health, a direct care provider. According to the company, American Airlines administers vaccines at airports in Chicago, Charlotte, Tulsa and Dallas-Fort Worth.
At least 25,000 people have been vaccinated through the partnerships, Premise President Jami Doucette said. He expects that number to rise into the millions.
Tyson Foods, one of the world’s largest food companies, said it vaccinated nearly 40,000 workers – nearly a third of the workforce – at vaccination events in 16 states. Tyson also expanded his on-site event last week to include eligible family members of employees.
Bob Reinhard, who leads Tyson’s vaccination effort, said a minority of workers have declined to be vaccinated, while some others are interested but want more information and don’t want to go first.
“That secondary group is arriving now,” Reinhard said.
Vaccination events organized by employers, along with incentives such as bonuses or paid time off, allow companies to keep track of how many employees have been vaccinated. Employer is permitted by law to need the vaccine, but the vast majority have shied away from it; some say that it only makes sense if everyone is eligible and there is sufficient supply.
Still, the idea is gaining some traction. While the Gartner survey in March found that only 8% of companies planned to require employees to show vaccinations, that number was up from 2% in January.
Chobani, who says he has prevented outbreaks in his factories and has seen few positive cases among workers, has not ruled out the need for the vaccines, Zuncic said. The company plans to review how many of its employees have been vaccinated by mid-year.
“It’s an ongoing discussion,” said Zuncic. “We want to get a sense of how far we are.”