More and more companies are agreeing to provide workforce flu jabs on foot of Unite the union initiative

Unite is strongly encouraging its members to take the flu jab as the best way to protect themselves, their workplaces and relieve pressure on the NHS

Growing numbers of employers have agreed to organise workforce vaccination events on site after Unite officers contacted them as party of a union initiative to support the NHS and protect workers during the Covid pandemic. The list currently includes ABP Meats, Lycra, DuPont, Dale Farm, Severfield, Kerry Foods and Caterpillar.

Kevin McAdam, Unite Regional Officer for workers in the health sector welcomed the move and encouraged more employers to step up and provide flu jabs to their employees.

“Unite took the initiative of contacting employers across Northern Ireland to encourage them to facilitate large-scale vaccination of workers onsite. This is the best way to get as many workers vaccinated as quickly as possible.

“While no worker should feel under any compulsion to participate, Unite is strongly encouraging workers to get a flu jab this year. Mass vaccination is going to play a huge role in protecting our NHS from exceptional pressures at this time.

“We are thankful to the growing list of employers who have already indicated that they will facilitate large-scale vaccination onsite – indeed many have already organised dates.

“We are also calling on the Department of Health to work with employers to ensure that the supplies are on hand to take this initiative – the benefit to our health service will be significant if we can push vaccination through the workplaces. We now need to see other employers doing likewise – it is only good business sense as it protects skilled workers in this pandemic and reduces costly absenteeism as well as relieving pressure on an already overstretched health service”, Mr McAdam said.