ORLANDO, Fla. — For four months, Channel 9 has been telling you about the coronavirus vaccination sites all over Central Florida.
We’ve told you about companies incentivizing their employees to get the coronavirus vaccine. And now, many of them are going the extra mile.
Companies are bringing the vaccines to their workers.
Public health experts said vaccinating employees will keep the workforce healthy, improve productivity and increase morale.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes employers should consider offering the vaccines to their staff.
Making vaccines accessible at the workplace isn’t something new. Many companies offer flu shots to their employees.
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Now as the supply of COVID-19 vaccine continues to increase, companies are starting to reach out to hospitals, county health departments and private businesses to see if they can get them to bring in doses and set up a vaccine site for employees.
Osceola County gave doses to Disney cast members. “It was an easy partnership. They had the infrastructure set up to provide the vaccinations,” said Jeremy Lanier from the Osceola County Health Department
In downtown Orlando, the Beacham nightclub offered a “shot for shot” vaccine promotion aimed at the hospitality industry.
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In Brevard County, Victory Casino Cruises employees got their shot too.
Quality One Wireless in Orlando is also working to set up shots for its employees with the help of its employee benefits consultant, J Donovan Financial.
J Donovan Financial Employee Benefits Consultant Chelsea Whalley said the Quality One Wireless has used this walk-up clinic for annual physicals and flu shots at its workplaces in the past.
“We’re bringing that same mobile health care to employer groups, but with vaccine COVID shots instead,” Whalley said. “They’re not saying every employee needs to be vaccinated. Rather, they’re saying we want to help you figure out how to do this.”
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For Quality One Wireless, this is about convenience and accessibility.
“They are in the warehouse. They don’t have the ability to work from home and the flexibility just to leave and quickly go get a shot.”
The team received doses from area pharmacies and physicians who were having some logistical trouble getting the vaccine out.
In all, 120 employees and their family members are set to get their first Pfizer shot on Tuesday at Quality One Wireless.
Orange County stated as it gets more doses of the vaccine, it will work to take vaccines into different work environments and pockets of the community.