The National Safety Council is urging employers to support the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
This request comes in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Pfizer’s vaccine for emergency use. In a Dec. 14 press release, the NCS stated that widespread support across the country is necessary for the health of the U.S. population and for economic recovery.
The council also recommended that employers should begin developing their vaccine plans now.
Creating a Vaccine Plan
Education
Each plan should provide knowledge of vaccine benefits, as well as how to get vaccinated when it’s available.
Create a Task Force
Create an internal team that can handle all vaccine-related concerns. The NSC recommends including professionals from different departments such as human resources, legal, communications, and health and safety departments.
Answer Legal Questions
Mandating company vaccinations is a difficult subject with no clear answer and potential legal issues.
The best way to start planning now is to be clear and transparent — and answer employees’ questions about their legal rights. Current polls indicate that the workforce is split on vaccine mandates.
Talk About It
It’s not enough to just announce a vaccine plan. Employers should engage their employees in meaningful conversations to understand the views of their workforce.
This will help in developing a vaccine strategy that succeeds in aligning with the goals and preferences of employees.
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Who will get the vaccine next? That depends on your industry and state.
In the meantime, NSC is calling on employers to continue the use of COVID-19 safety protocols. This includes encourage wearing face coverings, social distancing, frequent hand washing, contact tracing if possible, and telecommuting, if possible.
“It will take time for vaccines to be widely available,” the NSC stated in a previous statement on Dec. 10, “We cannot let our guard down.”
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