When Freedman Seating Co. heard manufacturing industry employees would be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, the company wanted to hold an event to distribute doses at work, much like it does with flu shots.
Getting access to a supply of COVID-19 shots, though, was a struggle for the Chicago-based company. Pharmacies and other companies that could administer the shots were overwhelmed with requests and wanted Freedman Seating to determine the exact number of doses needed, information the company didnât have at the time, said marketing manager John-Paul Paonessa.
Instead, the city reserved spots for the company at mass vaccination sites and employees helped colleagues navigate the registration process. About half of 630 employees have been vaccinated, but Freedman Seating still pursued a clinic vaccination event on-site and recently scheduled one for about 100 employees in early May, Paonessa said.
Workplace COVID-19 vaccination clinics may be easier to come by chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ferrara Candy Co. employee Agustin Rodriguez receives a Moderna COVID-19 vaccination April 15, 2021, at the company s plant in Chicago s Little Village neighborhood. Some employers are organizing vaccine clinics for their workers on-site. ANTONIO PEREZ, CHICAGO TRIBUNE
CHICAGO â When Freedman Seating Co. heard manufacturing industry employees would be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, the company wanted to hold an event to distribute doses at work, much like it does with flu shots.
Getting access to a supply of COVID-19 shots, though, was a struggle for the Chicago-based company. Pharmacies and other companies that could administer the shots were overwhelmed with requests and wanted Freedman Seating to determine the exact number of doses needed, information the company didnât have at the time, said marketing manager John-Paul Paonessa.