Vaccine Resource Center for Employers

Messaging

• Encourage leaders in your organizations to be vaccine champions and share testimonials about why they got vaccinated; promote their stories.
• Designate a single point of contact related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Provide staff with accurate, scientific-based information about the vaccine from entities like the Springfield-Greene County Health Department (SGCHD), Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
• Consider implementing and making accessible to employees and patrons a "COVID-19 Prevention Policy." The Springfield-Greene County Health Department provides several examples in their Business Toolkit.
• Know your rights and responsibilities as an employer (page 15 of the Business Toolkit, linked above).
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce provides links to several resources intended to help employers navigate COVID-19 messaging with employees.

Hesitancy

• It may be helpful to find out why someone is hesitant. The SGCHD can provide information to address frequent concerns and questions people may have about the vaccine.
• Encouraging leaders in your organizations to be vaccine champions and share testimonials about why they got vaccinated can also assist in combating vaccine hesitancy.
• Consider offering incentives (e.g. cash, paid time off), accommodations (e.g. transportation, removing cost barriers) or support (e.g. scheduling appointments, vaccine education) related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Encourage employees to speak to their primary care physician, or a similar credible source, about any hesitancy concerns.

COVID-19 Data

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) COVID Data Tracker
• Missouri Public Health Dashboard
• Springfield-Greene County Health Department Recovery Dashboard
• CDC Information on COVID-19 Variants

COVID-19 Vaccine

• Springfield-Greene County Health Department COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit
  • This updated toolkit provides resources for employers and community organizations to help answer frequently asked questions, provide education and address vaccine hesitancy.
• Springfield Chamber Vaccine Resource Center
• State of Missouri COVID-19 Vaccine Information
  • The state has provided information on vaccine safety, efficacy, history, rumor control and more.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Digital Resources Center
  • The U.S. Chamber offers several resources, guides and information on COVID-19 vaccines, including best practices for employer communication.
• CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Toolkit
• CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Research

• Work to address barriers that might create challenges to vaccinating your staff during the workday.
• Consider implementing masking and physical distancing protocols for individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated.
• Refer to updated resources from credible sources with information for employers on safety protocols like physical distancing, masking, sanitation and quarantine procedures and consider implementation, if applicable.
  • Find workplace guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) here.
• Encourage respiratory etiquette, hand washing/sanitizing at appropriate places within the business, and having employees stay home if they are sick.
• If not all of your staff is vaccinated, use videoconferencing or teleconferencing when possible for work-related gatherings.
• Require employees to quarantine if they have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 - excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past three months or who are fully vaccinated and showing no symptoms.
• The U.S. Chamber has provided a "Vaccine Considerations for Employers" document that gives additional guidance on considerations surrounding requiring vaccination and testing.
• Read more COVID-19 prevention and response recommendations from the SGCHD Toolkit for Businesses and Workplaces.

Many businesses and community organizations in Greene County have implemented COVID-19 mitigation protocols, most recently focused on vaccine incentives; listed below are just a few examples of these publicly-available efforts.

• Missouri State University is offering a student vaccination incentive program and lists their COVID-19 updates and response efforts on their website.
• Springfield Public Schools has reinstated masking protocols for students and staff until July 30.
• The Dickerson Park Zoo offered free admission to those who got vaccinated at their July 17 COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic.
• The Springfield Cardinals in partnership with several organizations are offering every student age 12+ vaccinated at Hammons Field two free tickets to that night's Springfield Cardinals game - learn more here.
• Mercy Springfield is requiring all physicians, staff, vendors and volunteers to get vaccinated by Sept. 30, 2021.
• Some businesses continue to implement a work from home or staggered in-building shift schedule.
• Many different businesses and community organizations have added COVID-19 prevention measures, including hand sanitizer stations, safety and physical distancing signage, and more.
• "Why we are giving associates incentive to get the COVID vaccine - SRC Holdings"
• CDC Updated Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals
• CDC Workplace Vaccination Program guidance (updated 3/25/21)
• "Publix offers 225,000 workers $125 gift cards to get vaccinated" (2/19/21)
• Recommendations for Developing a Vaccine Strategy from SHRM
• "Target's Paying Frontline Team Members to get the COVID-19 Vaccine - Here's How" (2/10/21)

• Missouri Vaccine Navigator
• Federal Vaccine Finder
• Springfield Greene-County Health Department
  • This information page includes a map of vaccine opportunities, a calendar of vaccine events, and more.
• Consider hosting an onsite vaccination clinic in partnership with a participating healthcare organization - find a list of several options on the Springfield Chamber's Vaccine Resource Center under the "Employer and Vaccinator Partnerships" tab or find more information from SGCHD here.