3M is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when a government-approved vaccine is available and is working to help employees and their communities find access to vaccinations. To help in these important efforts, 3M is organizing employee vaccine clinics at many 3M facilities and allowing up to four hours of paid time off for employees who choose to receive a vaccine at an offsite location. It’s another way 3M is fighting the pandemic from all angles.
The government authorization and subsequent availability and administration of COVID-19 vaccines is a significant step in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Getting vaccinated adds one more layer of protection against the infection.
Employee vaccination effort at 3M Cordova
The 3M plant at Cordova, Illinois, held a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for employees as the world marked the one-year anniversary of the WHO declaring a global pandemic.
Becky Boeding, an occupational health nurse at the 3M facility in Cordova, coordinated the vaccination event with public health officials in Rock Island County, Illinois. Members of the Illinois National Guard visited the site and offered up 250 doses of the U.S. government-approved vaccine.
“It gives me a glimmer of hope that maybe in the future we can get back to normal,” Boeding said.
All employees at the plant were eligible to receive the vaccine since they are identified as manufacturing workers according to the Illinois Department of Health’s COVID-19 response plan and phased approach to vaccination. Family members of employees who also work in manufacturing were eligible as well.
3M employees in Brookings, South Dakota, help with community vaccination clinics
Several employees from 3M’s Brookings, South Dakota, plant were among the more than 100 community volunteers who helped with two recent mass vaccination events organized by the Brookings County Pandemic Planning and Coordination Committee. Between the two events, 2,300 people received a vaccine.
Janet Ambur, the occupational health nurse at 3M’s Brookings facility, helped at both events.
"The individuals who came in to get their vaccinations were so happy to get it,” she said. "It's a scary thing for a lot of people and an important step in giving them a little bit of freedom that they haven't had for a year."
Currently, employees at the Brookings plant are eligible to get vaccinated at community vaccination drives, as are members of the community, if they’re over 65 or have an underlying medical condition.
By mid-April, Ambur expects all employees at the 3M facility in Brookings who are manufacturing workers and therefore considered by the state to be critical infrastructure workers, will be eligible for vaccines. She’s encouraging them to get vaccinated to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“It's definitely their choice,” she said. “But one thing I strongly encourage them to consider is that the vaccine is not only protecting themselves but protecting those around them.”
Helping 3Mers find a vaccine
During this global crisis, the safety of our employees and the public, including health care workers and first responders fighting COVID-19, is our highest priority.
Getting vaccinated adds one more layer of protection against the infection in addition to handwashing, physical distancing and wearing a face covering.
Events like those at 3M Cordova and in Brookings are being planned at different plant locations and communities as more vaccine becomes available.
Once a government-authorized COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to you, 3M strongly encourages that you get the vaccine to help protect yourself and others from COVID-19 if you don't have any concerns related to underlying health conditions or if you have discussed it with your doctor.
3M is providing information about vaccines to employees and working to help its employees identify a path to their COVID-19 vaccination – whether that’s through public health events or through an on-site employee vaccination drive.
Teams across the globe at 3M are working to understand the details of vaccine distribution plans in their local areas and countries, identifying 3M locations that may be eligible to administer the vaccine, and exploring feasible sites to conduct an immunization program.
