Employer's Guide:
Navigating COVID-19
Vaccine Policies at Work
Use these resources to stay safe, informed, and ahead of the game.
What's New This Week!
On December 17, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Reinstated OSHA's Vaccine ETS (Emergency Temporary Standards) that impacts employers with 100+ employees.
In summary, the ETS is back in effect, now with extended deadlines (January 10 and February 9), and covered employers must now take steps to ensure that they understand what is required. However, Hawaii employers are regulated by HIOSH and must wait for HIOSH's announcement of its adoption of OSHA's ETS, which will likely set new, Hawaii-specific compliance deadlines.
Where do you want to begin?
A Letter from ProService Hawaii CEO:
Why Employers Need to Drive Vaccinations
This is really the key question that we’ve been forced to grapple with, and I have two main reasons. The first is directly related to every employer in Hawaii. Covid transmission and healthcare costs are having a massive business impact...
Our experts unpack the details so you can take action.
- Part 1: What vaccine policy is best for my business? (1:51)
- Two Policy Options: 1) Mandatory 2) Vaccinate/Test (2:49)
- Unvaccinated (Medical or Religious Exemptions) (07:19)
- Unvaccinated (Personal Reasons) (09:52)
- Pros and Cons of Policy Options (15:19)
- How to Choose a Policy (20:37)
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Part 2: How do I operationalize my policy? (27:23)
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Communication (27:40)
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Confidentiality (31:20)
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Vaccination Status (32:32)
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Vaccine Incentives (40:27)
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Conclusion (42:52)
About Jake Schafer
Jake is a local epidemiologist, a contemporary public health expert, and the current Director of Infection Control & Employee Health at Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. As a 2021 40 Under 40 honoree by Pacific Business News, Jake has an emerging track record of innovative approaches and successful solutions during real-world health emergencies. During his career, Jake has worked in over 20 countries on six continents with organizations such as the World Health Organization, and government, military, non-profit, academic, and healthcare partners.
In our first episode, Jake talks about the state of vaccines in Hawaii, the risks of being unvaccinated, and its impacts on families, workplaces, and across our community.
In our second episode, Jake walks us through the 3 Rules of Engagement (4:00) for having conversations with employees that have chosen not to get vaccinated. He also shares with us 7 COVID-19 Vaccine Personas (8:00) employers may encounter. Jake also touches on Natural immunity vs. Vaccines (20:40) and share 3 Tips to Persuade Employees to Get Vaccinated in what he's termed "Carrots, Sticks & Wrecking Balls" (23:51).
In our third episode, Jake gives us an update on Hawaii's Progress in the fight against COVID-19 (00:25), plus gives us an inside scoop on the COVID-19 Boosters Shots (3:15). Jake and Steve also unpack What We Know So Far About COVID-19 Vaccinations for Kids (11:55) in light of Pfizer clinical trial data showing that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for children ages 5 to 11 years old. Thanks to questions submitted by viewers, Jake also answers questions about Merck's new antiviral pill (18:05).
Tune in yourself or share this week’s episode with your employees as we unpack the five most common myths about the vaccine, such as Myth 1: The COVID-19 vaccine affects fertility (3:09), Myth 2: It is not safe for those with pre-existing health conditions (7:29), Myth 3: It is not safe for children to get the shot (11:18), Myth 4: The COVID-19 vaccines were not rigorously researched (13:59), Myth 5: Ivermectin is a safe alternative (17:41), Conclusion: How to find credible sources about COVID-19 (22:01).
Where to Get Vaccinated:
- To find a free COVID test site
Statewide / Oahu / Maui / Kauai / Hawai'i Island - To track vaccination status
Other Top Resources:
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Multilingual Resources, Hawaii DOH
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Vaccine FAQ in Hawaiian, Hawaii DOH
- COVID-19 Guidance, CDC