Amazon, Sky, Molson Coors and Three UK have joined forces with the government to encourage their employees to get Covid-19 vaccines.
Over the last six months, leading businesses have pledged their support in promoting positive vaccination messages and encouraging their staff to get the vaccine to ensure workplaces are safe and employees are protected from Covid-19.
Employers involved in the drive - including Asda, Slimming World, Metro Bank, Santander, Nationwide Building Society, Severn Trent and Merlin Entertainments - have committed to offering flexibility for staff receiving the vaccine during working hours and to signpost staff to NHS advice on vaccination. Companies have also committed to giving paid time off for employees, in addition to providing sick pay for the minority who experience minor side effects like fever or a headache.
In order to galvanise more leading businesses and employers, LinkedIn has also committed resources and free advertising to help target CEOs and Directors to support their staff and encourage employees to get both vaccine doses by signposting to the government’s Employers Toolkit.
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi held a roundtable on Thursday this week with the businesses who have signed up to the employer coalition to thank them for supporting the largest vaccination programme in UK history and called on all UK businesses to join the employer coalition.
Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “We’re extremely grateful to all the brilliant businesses who have supported the vaccination programme so far and we’re calling on every employer in the UK to join us in the final push to get the UK vaccinated. Our best chance of living with this virus safely is by working together, with everyone playing their part and getting both doses of their vaccine.”
Vaccinated people are far less likely to get Covid-19 with symptoms and even more unlikely to get serious Covid-19, to be admitted to hospital, or to die from it and there is growing evidence that they are less likely to pass the virus to others.
Vaccines are available free of charge and from thousands of vaccine centres, GP practices and pharmacies. Around 98% of people live within 10 miles of a vaccination centre in England and vaccinations are taking place at sites including mosques, community centres and football stadiums.
