Good Jab: How Philippine Companies are Rolling Out Vaccination for their Employees - The Scene

From Cebu Pacific to McDonald’s, here are some ways that the private sector is having their staff inoculated.

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The country is months into its nationwide vaccination program. While the government has so far led the efforts, many private companies have started initiating their own rollouts for their employees and stakeholders.

But there is some hesitation coming from the private sectors in actually mandating vaccination, according to a Mercer study conducted last February. Only two percent of the respondents is deciding to mandate inoculation, with 68 percent not even considering it.

When asked why they would not mandate, the employer-respondents pointed out concerns about vaccine safety (68 percent) and compliance with employment labor and human rights legislation (54 percent).

“The decision to receive the vaccine ultimately boils down to trust,” says Mercer CEO Teng Alday. “And employers play a critical role in educating and sharing accurate information with employees, including facts about the benefits of the vaccines, company policies and insurance coverage. Communication will be vital in helping employees decide whether or not to get the shot.”

Here are a few companies that have started rolling out vaccination for their employees.

Cebu Pacific

In partnership with the Pasay Local Government Unit (LGU) and Project Balik-Buhay of Cebu, the carrier has inoculated around 58 percent of its flight crew. Fifty-one percent of its total workforce has also received their doses.

The company’s inoculation efforts, which started on July 28, aims to vaccinated all of its employees and their dependents as well as third-party workers for free by October this year. The rollout is part of the Gokongwei Group’s larger COVID Protect program, which started with the vaccination of Robinsons Retail employees on July 6.  

Cebu Pacific has so far carried over 15.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from China to Manila, and close to five million doses to 23 provinces.

Ayala Malls

A vaccination drive was recently launched by Ayala Malls, which is done in partnership with the Department of Health and LGUs. They are currently administering doses to supermarket and department store staff, mall service personnel, and store merchant representatives, with the goal of 100 percent inoculation by end of the year.

Ayala Malls president Christopher Maglanoc shares that they have so far administered doses to a “large majority of our Ayala Malls employees and frontline workers in Cloverleaf, Fairview Terraces, TriNoma, Vertis North, Glorietta, Greenbelt, Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Alabang Town Center, Capitol Central, and Abreeza.”

The lifestyle mall has been coordinating with the government and private organizations since the start of 2021 in order to properly implement this drive and testing sites.

Okada Manila

Since July, the integrated resort has started offering free COVID vaccines to its 5,700 team members and qualified dependents, with the goal of finishing by the last quarter of 2021. Called Vaxta Sama-Sama Panalo, the initiative is done in partnership with AC Health

Apart from this rollout, Okada Manila has also implemented well-being programs for its employees, including mental health webinars, skill enhancement e-sessions, counselling services, and health kit distribution. It has also participated in COVID relief efforts by providing grants to the Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Lung Center, Heart Center of the Philippines, and various LGUs.

This year, Okada Manila received certification from Forbes Travel Guide and digital healthcare leader Sharecare, the DOT’s Safety Seal, and the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safe Travels stamp.

McDonald’s Philippines

Close to 4,000 store employees of the quick service restaurant chain have been vaccinated to date. Aside from providing essential medical information, the company is constantly coordinating with the different LGUs to register its people for vaccination.

The chain also purchased close to 100,000 vaccine doses to be administered to its people for free. McDonald’s crew members and store managers are included in the A4 category of economic frontliners.

McDonald’s Philippines also supports its employees with free RT-PCR testing, care kits, and strict implementation of protocols to ensure both a safe working environment, and worry-free experience for its customers.

Belo Medical Group

One hundred percent of Belo employees at the head office and Metro Manila clinics, which number around 480, have received their Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Vicki Belo, its CEO and medical director, says that by having their team members fully vaccinated, they are doing their part to eradicate the virus.

Fully vaccinated employees will carry a badge of honor with pins that says “I am fully vaccinated, Welcome to Belo,” and clinics with all fully vaccinated employees will also carry the same sticker on their doors. All of their clinics, of course, still observe proper safety and health protocols, urging all employees to follow with strict compliance.

All Belo staff and doctors across their 15 clinics in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao are safely suited in specially designed PPEs, face masks, goggles, and face shields. Their employees who are already vaccinated can choose to give their allocated dose from the company to a depedent.

SM

More than 10,000 SM employees are now 100 percent vaccinated and partner tenants are close to reaching 100 percent in its vaccination initiatives. This vaccination campaign, which is based in SM North Edsa, encourages all employees to get vaccinated and be protected against COVID.

Done in partnership with the Quezon City government, SM turned its Skydome in North Edsa into a vaccination site earlier this year. Additional vaccination sites at the Cinema Area were also opened. SM City North EDSA also recently rolled out its Drive-Thru Vaccination Program for people under A1, A2, A3, at A4 priority list at the sixth level of the mall’s Carpark Plaza.

Quezon City citizens can book their COVID-19 Vaccine appointment through QC Vax Easy. This vaccination drive is one of many partnerships between SM and the QC LGU.

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