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MANILA – A joint survey of Willis Towers Watsons and the Philippine Management Association of the Philippines found that more than half of the surveyed employers in the country will be providing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines for their workers.
Of the 250 human resources practitioners that participated in the survey, 65 percent said they have arranged, or are in the process of arranging the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines on behalf of their employees.
Of the organizations that have not yet arranged an immunization program for their employees, 58 percent said they are considering buying Covid-19 vaccines while 42 percent said that they have no plans to buy the vaccine for their own workers.
Willis Towers Watson Philippines health and benefits leader Susan La Chica said employers have an important role in helping protect their employees and manage the spread of Covid-19.
“By providing timely communication, benefits and access, employers can assist employees in getting vaccinated,” La Chica said.
About 60 percent of those organizations that indicated to buy vaccines for their employees said they also intend to purchase vaccines for their workers’ dependents.
Over half of them said they would include spouses as well as parents, and children of single employees that should be residing with their workers.
More than 40 percent said they also consider purchasing vaccines for the parents of married employees, siblings of single employees, and anyone residing within the household of their employees.
Majority or 68 percent of the employers said they will provide the vaccines for their employees for free.
About 11 percent said they cannot pay the full cost of the vaccine but they would subsidize the cost, while 7 percent said the firm’s financial support will be limited to a segment of their employees’ population.
On the other hand, 71 percent of the surveyed organizations said even if they are willing to purchase the vaccine for employees’ dependents on behalf of their workers, companies will pass on the full cost to employees for their dependents’ vaccine.
Meanwhile, 37 percent of firms said they will hire a third-party other than their health maintenance organization (HMO) to administer the vaccination program, 29 percent have not yet planned about the vaccine administration, 19 percent will be working with their HMO, and 15 percent said the inoculation will be done in their onsite clinic providers.
“Pandemic fatigue is real and we all feel it. Now, more than ever, companies need to focus on the health and wellbeing of their employees,” La Chica added. (PNA)
