Dhe large employers sometimes have medical personnel in their ranks, offer their employees annual influenza vaccination and have sites capable of accommodating several people while respecting physical distancing. Some wish to donate these resources to the immunization effort.
This is the case, for example, of the Quebec specialist in flight simulators and training CAE, which is part of the group of employers that was recently arrested, along with the National Bank, CGI, BRP and Agropur, at this subject by the Minister of the Economy, Pierre Fitzgibbon.
“We have been talking to other large companies for weeks to try to offer solutions to the government,” explained the company’s senior vice-president of public affairs and global communications, Hélène Gagnon, in a telephone interview. Now is the time to start preparing to be broken in when the doses are available. “
She was careful to specify that the company was not aiming to circumvent the “order of priorities” of public health, but that it wanted to offer options to offer a little respite to the health sector. CAE, which has some 10,000 employees worldwide, has been shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced the company to carry out layoffs, particularly at its Quebec facilities, in the Montreal borough of Saint Laurent.
However, several elements remain to be worked out with the authorities, explained Ms. Gagnon. For example, would the government have to pay a bill if the services of private agencies are retained to perform the vaccination?
“We haven’t had that kind of discussion,” she said. The conversation is not of that order (to talk about money). The value for us will come when people get vaccinated and the economy reboots. The idea is (…) to offer a parallel place because we have experience and we have the space to welcome the population. ”
The Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec (FCCQ) also announced on Tuesday that it wanted to be the link between Quebec and companies wishing to host vaccination campaigns by offering a form to express their interest.
According to the employers’ association, a “detailed game plan” was even submitted to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé.
Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Québec (MEQ), which has about 1,100 members across Quebec, noted that several companies had raised their hands to participate in the vaccination effort.
“Some large manufacturers already have medical staff and also have the ability to seek them out in the private sector and have large sites where physical distancing can be respected,” said the president and CEO of the group at the end of the line. Véronique Proulx.
Stressing that “nothing was yet attached”, she added that MEQ intended to survey its members in order to have a clear picture of the capacities available.
The Mouvement Desjardins, which is the largest private employer in the province and whose total workforce reaches almost 48,000 workers, indicated in an email that it would be “available” if the Legault government wishes employers’ involvement.
“We are currently in discussion with public health on this subject,” said spokesperson Chantal Corbeil by email. Desjardins has always been there to protect the health of its employees, particularly with the annual flu vaccination campaign. ”
Bombardier also reported working “closely” with Quebec by “being part with other companies of a coalition aimed at accelerating vaccination, once the doses are available.”
Companies are not the only ones wanting to participate in vaccination. For example, last month, Metro, which owns the Jean Coutu Group, indicated that the pharmacy chain’s network could be made available for a mass vaccination campaign.
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