There are many reasons to get a COVID-19 vaccine but some area employers said that difficulty scheduling an appointment, taking time away from work or transportation challenges impeded their efforts to protect their essential workforce.
So Carle stepped in to coordinate an onsite vaccine clinic at Flex-N-Gate, Kraft and BeautyQuest with support from Carle Occupational Medicine and Community Health Initiatives.
“We’re proud to help Carle extend their reach beyond brick and mortar sites to support the health of our community,” Julie Pryde, administrator of Champaign-Urbana Public Health District said. “Taking vaccines directly to those who need it in workplaces, neighborhoods, at faith-based venues or even in their homes will make great strides in protecting our community.”
To request an onsite vaccine clinic, you must have 100 or more eligible employees. Contact Amy Cathorall, regional employer relations coordinator, at (217) 383-6730. This option is currently available for Champaign County workplaces and organizations and is dependent upon vaccine allocation and availability.
Flex-N-Gate/Guardian West worked closely with Carle to set up an onsite vaccination center, inside the plant for essential employees. Human Resources manager Anastasia Lloyd said she’s grateful to Carle’s team for organizing the effort.
“We take our responsibility to protect our employees very seriously and we want to do everything in our power to protect them, their families and our local community,” she said. “Having the vaccine available on site removed a number of hurdles for employees.”
To date, Carle has vaccinated 872 people through its targeted community outreach efforts with second dose clinics still underway.
Vaccinating essential workers is an important component of protecting our community and these employers made vaccine accessibility a top priority.
“We were delighted to partner with the Carle to strongly encourage all employees to get vaccinated when vaccines are available. Hosting a clinic at our facilities help reach and protect those in our factories who are front-line essential workers,” Michael Mullen, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, the Kraft Heinz Company, said.
Planning an on-site event requires a tremendous amount of coordination between employers, our pharmacy, specialty services, staff, doctors and nurses. But delivering vaccine to those who need is a very worthwhile investment Cathorall said.
Equally important is collaborating with faith-based groups to care for our community’s more vulnerable neighborhoods who may otherwise not have access to healthcare resources including a nearby vaccination site.
Carle has hosted two walk-in clinics at Church of the Living God in Champaign with great success.
“We’ve been partnering with Church of the Living God to address healthcare needs and disparities for some time and bringing vaccination opportunities directly to them is a natural extension of our work,” Jonathan Woods, RN, MSN, executive director, Community Health Initiatives, said.
These partnerships and targeted community outreach efforts help ensure vaccine reaches more people as quickly as possible.
Carle’s commitment to community outreach continues with an expanding opportunity to vaccinate Champaign County homebound residents. Qualifying homebound Carle patients may request an in-home vaccine online at https://tinyurl.com/CChomebound.
“After a long and challenging year, an on-site vaccination clinic has provided our employees with the hope that we are overcoming COVID and starting to move forward to a more normal life,” Mike McCormick from Beauty Quest Group said.
So Carle stepped in to coordinate an onsite vaccine clinic at Flex-N-Gate, Kraft and BeautyQuest with support from Carle Occupational Medicine and Community Health Initiatives.
“We’re proud to help Carle extend their reach beyond brick and mortar sites to support the health of our community,” Julie Pryde, administrator of Champaign-Urbana Public Health District said. “Taking vaccines directly to those who need it in workplaces, neighborhoods, at faith-based venues or even in their homes will make great strides in protecting our community.”
To request an onsite vaccine clinic, you must have 100 or more eligible employees. Contact Amy Cathorall, regional employer relations coordinator, at (217) 383-6730. This option is currently available for Champaign County workplaces and organizations and is dependent upon vaccine allocation and availability.
Flex-N-Gate/Guardian West worked closely with Carle to set up an onsite vaccination center, inside the plant for essential employees. Human Resources manager Anastasia Lloyd said she’s grateful to Carle’s team for organizing the effort.
“We take our responsibility to protect our employees very seriously and we want to do everything in our power to protect them, their families and our local community,” she said. “Having the vaccine available on site removed a number of hurdles for employees.”
To date, Carle has vaccinated 872 people through its targeted community outreach efforts with second dose clinics still underway.
Vaccinating essential workers is an important component of protecting our community and these employers made vaccine accessibility a top priority.
“We were delighted to partner with the Carle to strongly encourage all employees to get vaccinated when vaccines are available. Hosting a clinic at our facilities help reach and protect those in our factories who are front-line essential workers,” Michael Mullen, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, the Kraft Heinz Company, said.
Planning an on-site event requires a tremendous amount of coordination between employers, our pharmacy, specialty services, staff, doctors and nurses. But delivering vaccine to those who need is a very worthwhile investment Cathorall said.
Equally important is collaborating with faith-based groups to care for our community’s more vulnerable neighborhoods who may otherwise not have access to healthcare resources including a nearby vaccination site.
Carle has hosted two walk-in clinics at Church of the Living God in Champaign with great success.
“We’ve been partnering with Church of the Living God to address healthcare needs and disparities for some time and bringing vaccination opportunities directly to them is a natural extension of our work,” Jonathan Woods, RN, MSN, executive director, Community Health Initiatives, said.
These partnerships and targeted community outreach efforts help ensure vaccine reaches more people as quickly as possible.
Carle’s commitment to community outreach continues with an expanding opportunity to vaccinate Champaign County homebound residents. Qualifying homebound Carle patients may request an in-home vaccine online at https://tinyurl.com/CChomebound.
“After a long and challenging year, an on-site vaccination clinic has provided our employees with the hope that we are overcoming COVID and starting to move forward to a more normal life,” Mike McCormick from Beauty Quest Group said.
Categories: Community
Tags: Champaign-Urbana, Community, community health, COVID-19, occupational medicine, Vaccine