Incentivizing Covid shots an option, biz leader say
THE leaders of three business organizations in Cebu are open to suggestions to provide incentives that will encourage more private sector employees to receive the vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
However, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Felix Taguiam said the employees still have the final say on whether to get vaccinated or not.
“As per government regulations, we cannot force anyone to be vaccinated. It’s their right to decide and choose,” Taguiam said.
He said incentivizing vaccination may be a good option.
“But there needs to be a more thorough study as this might backfire. Other employees who got the vaccine ahead may feel that it is unfair,” he said.
For the past few weeks, however, he said some employees were convinced to get the vaccine after hearing about colleagues getting the shots.
Taguiam assured employees who do not want to be vaccinated of a “normal” workplace environment.
Steve Yu, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, said dangling a little carrot or incentivizing employees to get jabbed may fight vaccine hesitancy in the workplace.
“Vaccine hesitancy among company employees has gone down to 40 percent, from a high of 70 percent months ago. As exemplified by the US and UK, vaccination can help lift us out of the pandemic-induced economic crisis,” Yu said.
He said the benefits of incentivizing employees to get the vaccine far outweigh the staggering costs of this economic malaise.
“The sooner we do it, the better the results would be, and (there would be) less permanent scarring in our local economy,” he said.