A recent survey found that an increasing number of organizations in the Philippines have sought information on how companies plan to manage vaccinations for their workforce.
The Covid-19 Vaccination Efforts Survey, jointly conducted in February 2021 by Willis Towers Watson, a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, and the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) on 250 human resources practitioners in the country, found that about two-thirds or 65% of companies surveyed in the Philippines “have already arranged, or are in the process of arranging, the purchase of vaccines on their employees’ behalf.”
For companies that are considering procurement, 70% of employers have indicated that they are running a survey to determine the number of employees who are interested in being vaccinated.
When considering the procurement of vaccines for their employees, 68% of companies said they would fully pay for these vaccines.
One in ten (11%) indicated that they would subsidize the cost, but not shoulder a 100% payment of it.
Seven percent of respondents said the company’s financial support would be limited to a segment of their employees’ population. Half of these said they would pay for the vaccines for permanent employees only.
When procuring or facilitating the purchase of the vaccine for employees’ dependents, over half of the respondents have indicated that these would include spouse, parents of single employees and children, all of whom are residing with their employees. Over 40% plan to include the parents of married employees, siblings of single employees, and anyone residing within the household of their employees.
However, a huge majority (71%) of companies would pass on the full cost of the vaccination dependents and/or household members to their employees.
The survey also found out that 60% of the respondents have also indicated that they are working on the procurement of vaccines for the dependents of their employees.
When it comes to vaccine administration, 37% of companies are considering a third-party administrator other than their HMO or onsite clinic, 29% have not thought about administration yet, 19% will work with their HMOs for vaccine administration and 15% with their onsite clinic provider.
Among the employers surveyed who had not started the process, 58% are considering doing so and 42% of companies have no plans of purchasing the vaccines, 52% are considering procuring the vaccines for their dependents, and almost half (48%) are not.
“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. In a study we conducted last year, 93% of employers think that the pandemic will have a negative impact on employee wellbeing. In a more recent survey, two thirds of the respondents said that their companies’ response to the current pandemic or preparation for a future pandemic impacts their wellbeing approach and activities,” Susan La Chica, Health and Benefits Leader, Willis Towers Watson Philippines said in a statement.
“By providing timely communication, benefits and access, employers can assist employees in getting vaccinated. This is an important role that employers can play in helping to protect their employees and limit the spread of Covid-19.”
The result of the study comes after the Philippines started its vaccination program against Covid-19 last Monday after President Rodrigo Duterte lead the Philippine delegation in welcoming the arrival of 600,000 doses of donated Sinovac’s CoronaVac by the Chinese government last Sunday.
A transport plane of the People’s Liberation Army of China landed at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City around 4:10 pm on Sunday carrying the donated vaccines.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel. That is light at the end of the tunnel,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview on state-run TV network PTV.
“At least nagsimula na po tayo. At tuluy-tuloy na po.” Rommel F. Lopez