Heather Arranie 
It’s become an all too familiar part of life: scouring the news for the latest Covid-19 headlines. In this case, however, the news is much more encouraging. Microsoft has announced that a whopping 93% of their employees have been vaccinated against Covid-19 – a clear sign that companies can and should prioritize employee safety throughout the pandemic. Let’s explore how Microsoft accomplished this remarkable feat and what other businesses should takeaway from it.
Introduction
Microsoft Corp. has taken steps to ensure that employees at its headquarters in Redmond, Washington and its worldwide network of offices are vaccinated against Covid-19. The company has also made available comprehensive resources to educate, inform and vaccinate its workers wherever they are located. In the United States, Microsoft is providing hands-on assistance at Vaccination Centers located within Microsoft facilities. In addition, they have launched the “Bring Your Own Vaccine” (BYOV) program which allows employees to get vaccinated where they live or work by bringing a copy of their immunization certificate to sites around the world designated as “BYOV Centers”.
The company is also offering their global employee base online tools and resources to access information about local vaccination options and health considerations specific to their country or region. Microsoft is dedicated to staying up-to-date with new developments surrounding the Covid pandemic in order provide efficient access for their employees anticipating vaccination.
Understanding the Need for Vaccination
The coronavirus pandemic has presented us all with numerous challenges. Microsoft is actively attempting to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 by taking extra precautions and measures to ensure the safety of its employees. This includes making sure that they are vaccinated against the virus as soon as possible. Vaccines have been identified as an effective tool in fighting the virus, resulting in a reduction of cases and lower rates of transmission. As an employer, Microsoft is dedicated to promoting vaccination initiatives and providing employees with access to critical healthcare services. Microsoft recognizes the importance of equipping workers with comprehensive information on vaccine availability, safety, effectiveness, and side effects so they can make an informed decision before proceeding with their immunization.
To this end, various educational platforms and resources have been developed to help employees better understand their options when it comes to obtaining a Covid-19 vaccine. These include webinars led by healthcare professionals from Microsoft’s Medical Services team, interactive Q&A sessions hosted by our HR team members; as well as articles written by industry experts which address questions about coronavirus vaccinations and how they fit into an overall preventive health strategy for individuals or companies seeking guidance on such matters.
Microsoft’s Vaccination Program
Microsoft has implemented a comprehensive vaccination program to ensure its employees’ safety against Covid-19. Microsoft is offering incentives for employees who get the vaccine and associated healthcare options, including two rounds of vaccine shots and telehealth care services to administer and review the vaccines. Microsoft has also launched a Vaccination Support Center to inform employees about the process and available options for getting vaccinated. The support center includes information about the vaccines themselves, eligibility requirements, side effects, healthcare services related to vaccinations, and other related resources. Microsoft is committed to helping its workers get vaccinated with minimal disruption in order to keep them safe from any potential spread of Covid-19 in their workplace.
Additionally, Microsoft has set up a Vaccination Network designed to connect its employees with local vaccine providers in their area so that they may be able to easily access services needed for vaccinations. Through this network, Microsoft will be able to collaborate with various healthcare professionals throughout the United States in order to develop an effective system for providing vaccines where they are needed most.
Mirosoft Citing High Rates of Employees Vaccinated Against Covid
Microsoft is one of the leading companies in the United States to prioritize employee vaccination against Covid-19, boasting high rates of employees who have received their first dose of the vaccine. To ensure its workforce is making use of available Covid-19 vaccine opportunities, Microsoft has partnered with healthcare providers, pharmacies and local health departments to help facilitate allotment and tracking. Through this widespread collaboration, Microsoft employees have had an amplified opportunity to receive access to doses that would otherwise be difficult to attain.
Microsoft’s effort to prioritize vaccination within its workforce is an important step in helping protect not just the individuals employed by the company but also those with whom they interact. Vaccination has been shown to be effective in reducing hospitalization rates from severe sickness caused by Covid-19 by up to 94 percent among vaccinated individuals as compared to those who are unvaccinated. With a growing number of states aiming for herd immunity, having a devoted campaign toward vaccinating front line or essential workers could prove immensely helpful.
Additionally, Microsoft has been instrumental in providing greater access and expediting workflows around its own employee vaccinations. By leveraging internal platforms such as Teams and Power Apps, the company was able to facilitate feedback on scheduling appointments for vaccination sites near each employee’s respective residence. The company was also quick in crafting innovative solutions such as developing custom checklists that can map out immunization requirements and assist with tracking which portion of its workforce is still needed vaccinations or quarantine should they test positive for Covid-19 afterwards.
Conclusion
Organizations like Microsoft are doing their part to provide employees with an added layer of protection against Covid-19. Through incentivizing employees to take the vaccine, Microsoft is leading the way in promoting public health and safety. While many organizations have similar incentives, it is important that all businesses find ways to ensure their employees are vaccinated in order for society to reach herd immunity. This not only protects those who may be at higher risk of contracting illnesses due to underlying health conditions, but also serves as a bulwark against new variants emerging down the road. By making vaccinations easy and accessible for employees, companies like Microsoft are paving the way for us all to live again without fear of contracting a potentially life-threatening illness.
tags = covid vaccine, employees of microsoft, vaccinated employees, fully reopened microsoft facilities, get vaccinated, get the vaccine, microsoft washington february covid19 countybishopgeekwire, microsoft february covid19 king countybishopgeekwire, microsoft covid19 countybishopgeekwire, february covid19 countybishopgeekwire, microsoft february covid19 countybishopgeekwire, microsoft washington february covid19 king countybishopgeekwire, washington covid19 king countybishopgeekwire, washington february covid19 king countybishopgeekwire, february covid19 king countybishopgeekwire, global pandemic, micorsoft employees, covid-19 vaccination
