washington business
The pandemic has accentuated the need for the public sector to collaborate with the private sector to protect the health of Washingtonians . Can you talk about how employers can partner with local hospitals , clinics and health care providers as they work to administer the Covid-19 vaccine ?
Some employers may want to host on-site vaccination clinics . There are lots of resources available for those employers , including DOH guidance , a Challenge Seattle playbook on public-private vaccine partnerships and your local health jurisdiction .
All employers can implement supportive policies that make it easier for employees to get their vaccine , like allowing schedule flexibility so employees can get vaccinated during work hours , providing paid time off for vaccine appointments and supporting transportation to off-site locations . Employers should keep in mind that employees may experience side effects after getting vaccinated , plan for coverage accordingly and provide supportive policies like paid sick leave if needed .
Employers can also share information on the importance of Covid-19 vaccination and how to get your vaccine in employee communications , using trusted sources like DOH , local health departments and the CDC .
The pandemic has also demonstrated how health and the economy are inextricably linked . What lessons should employers take away from this experience ?
This pandemic has been horrific in so many ways , but it has also opened up the opportunities to make transformational changes in life . When we work together — public health as a field or we all as a society — there is nothing we cannot accomplish . As the vaccine provides the path to economic recovery and a return to normalcy , we can build on the revolutionary adjustments in the way we live and work that would have otherwise taken years or a decade .
Across the country and across the state of Washington , we need to remember the value of public health . Public health is something we should all be championing , including employers . That can mean adopting policies that support employees ’ health , but it can also mean working together to find innovative solutions for health issues . Publicprivate partnerships have been key to many of our successes in rolling out vaccines , including the work the Vaccine Command and Coordination System ( VACCS ) Center has done to make it easier for all Washingtonians to find information , schedule an appointment and receive their vaccine . Finding these opportunities to work together to improve the health of people in our state will continue to be a priority for me going forward .
Moving forward , how can employers continue to support the Department of Health to promote the health of the state ’ s workforce ?
We are asking employers to continue following public health guidance as we progress in the Governor ’ s Roadmap to Recovery . Even as we successfully roll out vaccines , it will still be critical to continue taking precautions like wearing masks , washing our hands and watching our distance . We have made incredible progress since last spring , thanks to the vaccines and everyone ’ s efforts to stop the spread of the virus , but we are not out of the woods yet . Keep up the good work ! dr . umair shah at a glance
Appointed Washington state secretary of health in November 2020 Originally from Pakistan and raised in Ohio
B . A . in philosophy from Vanderbilt University ; M . D . from the University of Toledo Health Science Center ; M . P . H . with an emphasis in management and policy sciences from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Married with three children and one puppy spring 2021 15