Salt Lake City

Department of Economic Development

Phone: (801) 535-7200 | Email: ed@slcgov.com

Vaccination Resources for Business

Vaccination Resources for Business

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. It is critical that you are supported and resourced in times of crisis. Logistical challenges, pandemic fatigue, and skepticism about the vaccine have caused some to resist the vaccine effort. Building our economy back better will require a rapid and far-reaching vaccination strategy, and you can be a leader in this area.

For Your Employees

Educate yourself and help your employees understand the importance and safety of the Covid-19 Vaccine. Salt Lake County Health Department has created this helpful website to keep you up-to-date with WHEN and WHERE you can get it.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently held an event on The Role of Employers in Promoting Vaccines and Implementing Mandates, below are a few takeaways:

  1. Although employee attitudes toward vaccine mandates are a mixed bag (35% oppose & 65% support), employees want to hear from the people they work for on Covid-19 vaccines (71%). Employers are positioned to be trusted purveyors of information. This provides an opportunity for employers to diffuse workplace tensions between vaccinated and unvaccinated employees. Additionally, and importantly to employers, this provides an opportunity to communicate and retain high-performing employees.
  2. People now know what works in stopping the spread of Covid-19 and are reporting that they are, in fact, taking the necessary precautions. In a survey conducted for the U.S. Chamber Foundation in September of this year, people reported they are; washing their hands frequently (79%), wearing masks (65%), socially distancing (68%), getting vaccinated (58%), staying home (54%), getting tested (55%), and contact tracing (43%).
  3. The same survey found that there is soft support for businesses requiring proof of vaccination (49%), with 32% opposing. Broken down by age, only 25-34 year olds opposed workplace vaccine mandates 40% to 38%. Democrats reported support 65% to 22% and even Republicans and Independents were split. And, when broken down by location, even rural populations supported employers requiring proof of vaccine at 42% compared to 36% opposed.
  4. Last, messaging matters! Personal stories, like we have seen advertised are the least effective messages to convince the unvaccinated to get vaccinated. And, in fact, they make people less likely to get vaccinated. So do messages about vaccine safety and frightening Covid statistics. What messaging is effective? I’m glad you asked. It turns out the protecting children is the most effective messaging, followed by financial costs and fear of missing out.

UTA is offering free fare to and from vaccination appointments through June 30, 2021.

Volunteer Opportunities — The state of Utah is looking for volunteers to help get Utahns vaccinated against COVID-19, as quickly and efficiently as possible. Utah Responds is building a large pool of people that can be deployed when needed, and near where they live. All volunteers should sign up through the Utah Responds website where you will select which organization you would like to join, either your local Medical Reserve Corps or the Utah COVID-19 Responders.
Some local health departments may already saturated with volunteers. In those cases some businesses are donating lunch to volunteers. Others businesses have offered sites to administer the vaccine.

If your business is interested in hosting a vaccine/event clinic, state health agencies have indicated mobile partners will be coming online in the months ahead. If your business currently has an onsite clinic, or you have the capacity service large amounts of people please contact the Utah Department of Health. More information from the Get the Vax Facts presentation hosted by the Salt Lake Chamber here.

Legal Help

The Salt Lake Chamber has assembled helpful information and resources for businesses in establishing a Vaccination Policy:

  • General Vaccine Information
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Business Checklist
  • Employee Vaccination Help
  • Education & Training

Can you legally require employees to get a vaccination as part of their employment? The Restaurant Law Center has provided this document that outlines the legal issues facing restaurants and other types of businesses.