Asda is amongst the leading businesses across the UK supporting the Covid-19 vaccination programme and encouraging their staff to get a jab when eligible.
So far, nine of the UK’s biggest employers- Ikea, Asda, Slimming World, Metro Bank, Procter & Gamble UK, Santander, Nationwide, Severn Trent and Merlin Entertainments- have pledged their support in promoting “positive vaccination messages”, encouraging their 240,000 employees to get the vaccine.
The news comes as Asda opened its first London coronavirus vaccination centre in its Old Kent Road last month, following the success of the two existing in-store Covid-19 vaccination centres. The first opening in Birmingham, closely followed by Asda’s store in Watford in February.
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“We have been extremely proud to play our part in the vaccine roll-out by hosting NHS vaccination centres in three of our stores. Asda was the first supermarket to offer this service and so far our pharmacy colleagues have now administered over 36,000 doses,” Asda Superintendent pharmacist Faisal Tuddy said.
“We are also encouraging our colleagues to get the jab as soon as they are eligible to, and are supporting them by giving them the time off to attend both appointments to receive the vaccine as well as the time they need to recover if they feel unwell.”
The government has also urged other employers to support this measure.
“Our vaccination programme has so far saved thousands of lives, protecting our loved ones and bringing down infection rates to a point where we can see normality on the horizon,” Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock added.
“It’s fantastic that employers are prioritising the safety of their staff and doing all they can to encourage people to get vaccinated.
“I urge everyone to get their vaccines when they get the call so we can beat this pandemic together.”
