Dozens of Missouri workplaces meet 70% vaccinated benchmark

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Less than two weeks after the Missouri Chamber of Commerce announced its COVID Stops Here program to encourage employees and employers to get vaccinated, 100 businesses have achieved at least 70% vaccination.

Businesses receive signs and recognition on the chamber's website once they achieve a goal. There are three tiers of vaccination in the program: the bronze tier is 70%, the silver tier is 80% and the gold tier is 90%. The vaccination rate in Missouri is 41%, but most of the businesses participating in this program are at the gold tier.

Daniel Mehan, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber, said in a press release that getting people in the workforce vaccinated is the key to economic recovery.

"Our COVID Stops Here designation signals that a workplace is a safe, healthy environment for employees and customers," Mehan said. "The simple fact is getting vaccinated is good for business and good for our economy."

Brendan Cossette, chief operating officer at the Missouri Chamber, said the Missouri Chamber is 100% vaccinated. In order to help other businesses reach these benchmarks, the chamber provides them with packets that include sample emails and other things to encourage their employees to get vaccinated.

"Businesses play a very important role in their communities, and we at the Missouri chamber knew that a lot of them would want to do their part in fighting COVID-19," Cossette said.

Several local workplaces are in the gold tier, including Pizza Tree, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the Daniel Boone Regional Library.