Strategies for Employers

• All healthcare professionals are encouraged to take steps to help ensure that their adult patients are up-to-date with the currently available COVID-19 vaccine. For additional guidance, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Standard for Adult Immunization Practice (SAIP) resource.

• Ensure that the information is personal and targeted to the individual, so it addresses their questions and concerns in a nonjudgmental way.

• Communicate using simple and clear language when explaining side effects or any potential risks associated with the vaccine. It could be beneficial to use the term “shot” rather than the term “vaccine.”

• Convene town hall meetings with workers and identify champions within your workplace who are trusted and can deliver the message. Many workers may feel comfortable with the health care provider at their workplace providing them with information and sharing their experiences.

• It is important to acknowledge and be truthful about uncertainty to help gain trust.

• Storytelling about those affected positively by vaccinations is more likely to be effective than statistics.

• Consider incentivizing employees (e.g., paid time off to get vaccinated) who receive the vaccine to encourage them to contribute to a safe and healthy workplace.

• Acknowledge COVID-19 fatigue and emotional well-being issues that employees experienced.

• Employers should explore ways to make vaccines available in the workplace. Removing this barrier and offering vaccines on-site is a convenient way for employees to stay up-to-date with their vaccines and protect themselves.

• For employers wishing to offer the COVID-19 vaccine at the workplace, there may be some cost-savings in securing a bulk order of doses for your entire health system vs. for only one site or paying for the vaccine through the employer’s health insurance plan. One recent study showed that it was more cost-effective for an employer to offer the COVID-19 vaccine onsite utilizing staff vs. a retail pharmacy.1

• Encourage vaccination among employees’ family members. If you are providing a vaccination program for your employees, consider inviting family members to participate.