Promoting Vaccination at Your Facility

With the treat of a respiratory virus “tripledemic” looming this winter, it’s important to encourage actions within your workplace that could help reduce the risk of influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19. While mandating vaccination for your employees can open the door to legal and ethical dilemmas, promoting vaccination can be a prudent, proactive way to mitigate illness within your facility.

Benefits of Workplace Vaccination

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are numerous reasons why it makes sense to promoting vaccination within your workplace. Benefits include:

• Tending to employee safety and well-being
• Reducing worker absences due to illness and doctor visits
• Improving employee moral
• Providing convenience through onsite vaccine administration.

Three Ways to Promote Workplace Vaccination

The CDC suggests three ways to promote workplace vaccination:

1. Host an onsite vaccination clinic. By hosting a vaccination event at your own facility, you provide your employees a convenient (and typically free-of-charge) opportunity to get any necessary vaccines and boosters. It also provides management with the chance to encourage vaccination through promotion of the event. The CDC outlines the necessary steps to take to host and promote your own vaccination clinic.

2. Create a vaccination campaign. By creating a promotional campaign, you can communicate to your workers the benefits of getting vaccinated. Even if you can’t hold a vaccination clinic at your facility, you can still encourage workers to get vaccinated at other community locations. Use posters and flyers in break rooms, cafeterias, and other high-traffic areas to advertise places that offer vaccinations. Post articles in company communications (such as newsletters, websites, and emails) about the importance of vaccination and where to go.

3. Establish Vaccination Policies. Establish work policies that specifically encourage vaccination, such as allowing employees to take time to research and receive vaccinations during working hours.

For more information, also see Don’t Forget About the Flu, to learn more about preparing for what could be the first real flu season since the COVID-19 pandemic.