Washington, D.C. — As supply of COVID-19 vaccines begins to exceed demand, employers will play an increasingly important role in helping the United States maximize efforts to get people vaccinated, a critical effort to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Today, the Center for American Progress released a new issue brief examining strategies for employers to boost vaccination among employees through the use of of targeted education and outreach efforts as well as incentives.
The brief recommends that if such measures prove insufficient, employers should consider requiring vaccination in cases where employees’ jobs involve a high degree of COVID-19-related risk to them or the public. Employers in this category include health care; high-density settings such as meatpacking plants; child care and K-12 schools because children are unvaccinated; congregate settings; and essential workers. The brief also argues that in the absence of a national immunization record or credentialing system, employers must be careful to balance compliance with employee privacy and accessibility while encouraging the continued following of public health guidelines, such as those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Employers play a critical role in reaching vaccine-hesitant and vaccine-resistant Americans with information and resources they need about the safety, efficacy, and importance of COVID-19 vaccines,” said Emily Gee, senior economist of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress. “The strategies outlined in this brief will promote the health of workers and customers and are good for both public health and business, which is why we encourage their widespread adoption.”
Please click here to read “Employers Can Accelerate COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts” by Emily Gee and Nicole Rapfogel.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Colin Seeberger at [email protected] or 202-741-6292.