The Benefit Fund Vaccinates 500 Members and Retirees in Six Days, More to Follow
Your 1199SEIU employees and members are getting vaccinated against COVID-19 at record rates as the Union and Benefit Fund continue to educate them and answer their questions about the vaccines. According to the Union’s most recent poll, 1199SEIU members’ hesitancy about being vaccinated is declining steadily. In January, the Benefit Fund made a special outreach to help 2,300 Home Care members get vaccinated. Most recently, the Fund received a 500-dose supply of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine from the state, and Worksite Wellness nurses at Funds Headquarters contributed to the overall vaccination effort by administering shots to members and retirees. After distributing the initial 500 doses and compiling a waiting list, the Fund received an additional supply of vaccines and have expanded the invitation to be vaccinated to Union and Funds staff.
In partnership with the Union and the Training and Employment Funds, the Benefit Fund has hosted more than 30 “Get the Facts” Tele-Town Halls and webinars with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Van H. Dunn. To date, the joint information campaign has helped educate nearly 25,000 members, including 17,000 retired members who participated in Tele-Town Halls designed especially for them. There have also been 29,000 page views for COVID-19 resources on the Funds’ website.
The Union and Benefit Fund’s robust campaign was showcased in a recent
New York Magazine article, which highlighted the joint effort to address members’ concerns about the vaccines and demonstrated the leadership role 1199SEIU members have assumed in supporting vaccination within the healthcare industry. Educational efforts continue.
