Vaccination against covid in business, what are the stakes?

In-house vaccination for anti-covid is a topic of the day. Following the intervention of The Minister of Labour Elisabeth BORNE, it seems that the government is seeking to make vaccination against Covid-19 accessible in the workplace. “I think companies, which every year participate in the flu vaccination strategy, will be able to play a role in this vaccination strategy when the time comes.” Thus, on the model of influenza vaccination, occupational medicine could be allowed to offer the anti-covid vaccine in business. However, there are many questions before this project can be made effective.

Vaccination against covid in business, an obligation for the employer?

As the government has already said, it does not want to make vaccination mandatory. In this sense, vaccination against covid cannot be imposed by employers on their employees.

On the other hand, companies are required to ensure the safety and health of their teams. Endorsed by Article L. 4121-1 of the Labour Code, this rule protects employees from occupational risk and avoids contamination between employees of the company. (1)

Thus, vaccination is one of the solutions that the company can propose as part of its obligation to protect employees. However, the occupational doctor can only propose a vaccination campaign if he has the time and means to carry it out. (2) Conditions that will quickly be lacking as part of the anti-covid vaccination.

To learn more about vaccination issues, BORDEAUX Business spoke with Tiffany GULPAIN, HR Director at JVWEB. This small and medium-sized business of about 60 employees already offers flu vaccination campaigns and plans to participate in the collective effort against Covid-19.

tiffany gulpain rh jvweb anti-covid vaccination
Tiffany GULPAIN, HR Director at JVWEB

How does a company like JVWEB come to take a stand on such health issues?

We are used to setting up vaccinations, especially against the flu for 3 years. In our view, it is our responsibility to empower employees to protect themselves, especially at the health level. And of course, to do it safely. In the context of the Covid, we believe it is essential to participate in the collective effort.

After discussing it internally, employees are rather receptive and view this initiative positively. In general, they show a great sense of responsibility. It should be noted that our team has an average age of about 27 years. It is therefore not part of the population particularly exposed to severe forms of the disease. On the other hand, they know that to regain a social life and to protect their loved ones, they need vaccination.

The decision to offer the vaccine in business comes from the steering committee of which I am a member. It was not a difficult decision to make. In reality, it is in the continuity of what we are already doing against the flu. In addition to corporate social responsibility, it also has a business interest. For good reason, the vaccine secures the framework so that employees return to their workplace more serenely.

Increasing vaccination coverage for teams reduces the number of work stoppages. It should be noted that for influenza, the average duration of sick leave is almost 5 days (3). Every year, 12 million working days are lost for the flu. During the Covid, the numbers are even more important. Vaccination therefore reduces absenteeism and thus the costs of the epidemic. Companies that have the opportunity to propose such a campaign therefore have a strong interest in looking into the issue.

Will French companies be willing to offer vaccination to employees?

Although it is possible, in-house vaccination is not very common. For Covid-19, this could be very different from the flu. Already because the risks are higher, which has enough to motivate.

Collectively, companies have a strong interest in participating in this vaccine to return to normal activity. On the other hand, for logistical and cost reasons, the implementation of anti-covid vaccination in the workplace may be complicated.

vaccination anti-covid vaccine company covid-19
Vaccination against anti-covid in the workplace faces, among other things, difficulties in the supply of vaccine doses.

In practice, how is a vaccination campaign organized in the workplace?

The vaccination campaign is 100% dependent on the employer. However, it is important to know that the cost of the anti-covid vaccine is covered by social security. On the other hand, organizational costs are the responsibility of the employer. He contacts occupational medicine, the representative body for occupational health issues. Then a nurse travels to do the injections.

The company provides a room to preserve anonymity and guarantee sanitary conditions. For the vaccine itself, it is usually the nurse who gets the doses for the flu. For Covid-19, this remains to be seen. Currently, only the state can place an order.

Then, employees are vaccinated on a voluntary basis. The company does not have the right to force them to be vaccinated. Nor is it permitted to make it a condition of return to work, including in person.

In practice, the implementation of anti-covid vaccination campaigns in the workplace will be more complicated than for influenza. Businesses face the issue of accountability first. It must be said that we have less hindsight on this vaccine. It is therefore still necessary to work with lawyers on the issue of liability. There are also issues related to the supply and storage of doses.

How will companies and Human Resources organize themselves to offer anti-covid vaccination?

For the Covid-19, we will have a real responsibility in informing the collaborator. It’s normal already in a regular situation, with the flu. But there is widespread concern at the national level. It is therefore the employer’s responsibility to communicate the right sources of information so that the employee can make his decision on his own, as objectively as possible.

Second, the second issue is logistics. To date, we do not see how to get the sufficient doses, let alone how to store them. In order to offer vaccination in business, we are therefore totally dependent on laboratories that are struggling to meet their commitments. As well as the state, which is currently the only one to have the vaccines delivered.

The third issue is the anonymity of information and legal responsibility. This refers in particular to medical secrecy which must be insured in the company.

What tools and initiatives are needed to inform employees about vaccination and the devices put in place?

If employers are called upon to participate in this collective effort, they will receive the information directly from the Ministry of Labour. Second, they must be able to count on the support of the ministry and the occupational doctors who provide documents and sources of information. The Regional Health Agency (ARS) should also have a role to play.

Currently, the conditions for implementation are unclear. We still have to wait for the next directives. It is a great mystery as to how soon anti-covid vaccination campaigns can begin. The most optimistic estimates speak of spring. In reality, priority people will have to be vaccinated at a minimum. That is, the over-75s first, then the over-65s… As well as health workers on display…

Regarding JVWEB, given the average age of the workforce and our field of activity,we are not going to be given priority quickly.

team jvweb anti-covid vaccination
JVWEB Team – Photograhie transmitted by JVWEB

Vaccination against anti-covid in companies, what precautions are necessary?

In practice, the implementation of an in-house anti-covid vaccination campaign involves serious logistical questions. Thus, the employer must be able to dedicate a room to vaccination. Which must be able to respond to sanitary conditions such as ventilation, but also to regulatory obligations such as confidentiality. The employer must also provide the protections for health care workers and voluntary employees. Consideration will also need to be given to how to obtain the necessary equipment, starting with the vaccine itself and its storage. In continuity, the employer is also required to monitor the traceability of the lots. Similarly, it is imperative to provide the waste management protocol to avoid any risk of contamination.

These precautions are valid in the case of a vaccination that is going well. Therefore, the company must also seek to protect itself in case of hazards, such as an allergic reaction.

Given the cumbersome nature of the process, as well as the cost of setting up, there is a good chance that only large companies will be able to offer anti-covid vaccination campaigns.

Sources

  1. The Covid-19 vaccine and the business community: What are the obligations?, Village Justice, Patrick Lingibé, article of January 14, 2021
  2. Circular letter of 26 April 1998 on the practice of vaccinations in the workplace by occupational doctors
  3. Influenza vaccine: the companies involved?, Eurecia, article of 22 January 2020
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