THE Society for Human Resource Management-CNMI chapter featured a panel discussion on Covid-19 vaccination and legal updates during its general membership meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan on Wednesday.
The Society for Human Resource Management-NMI chapter held its general membership meeting at Hyatt Regency Saipan on Wednesday.
SHRM photo
The panelists were Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation Chief Executive Officer Esther Muna, CHCC public health educator Keanna Villagomez, Department of Commerce-Workers Compensation Commission Director Frank Cabrera, IT&E human resource business partner Shirley Dotts, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission-Honolulu Office Director Raymond Griffin Jr., and U.S. EEOC lead outreach education coordinator and public relations manager Nicole St. Germain.
Griffin and St. Germain joined the discussion via Zoom video call.
The hot topic for discussion was whether private companies can mandate Covid-19 vaccination as condition of employment.
In an interview, Villagomez said: “From what I gathered from the discussion, it’s really up to the company if they’re going to be implementing that kind of policy. At CHCC, our main goal is to just make [the Covid-19 vaccines] accessible for people.”
From left, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. Chief Executive Officer Esther Muna, CHCC public health educator Keanna Villagomez, CNMI Department of Commerce-Workers Compensation Commission Director Frank Cabrera, and IT&E human resources business partner Shirley Dotts.
SHRM photo
Villagomez noted that the issue is also a hot topic for discussion in the states.
“I know that at CHCC, we do offer exemptions for particular cases and it’s on a case-by-case basis,” said Villagomez, adding that she was among the first to be vaccinated.
Asked about the importance of the Covid-19 vaccinations, Villagomez said, “I think, for obvious reasons, you want to protect the community and yourself, and you want to protect people who can’t get vaccinated for a variety of reasons.”
Regarding vaccines for children, The Atlantic has reported that Pfizer and Moderna have both begun U.S. trials for kids as young as 12 years of age. “And if those trials go smoothly, the vaccines will be tested in younger and younger kids.”
Villagomez said CHCC will wait for guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
In the CNMI, Villagomez said there are common misconceptions about the Covid-19 vaccine that have deterred some community members from getting the vaccine.
“Getting vaccinated really protects you from getting a severe illness,” she said.
Villagomez at the same time extended her gratitude for being invited as a panelist at the SHRM general membership meeting.
“I was really happy to be a part of it. All of the questions were really good…very thought-provoking…. They made us think about how the community is reacting to the vaccinations,” she said.
She said it is important that businesses have human resource officers who can help them with questions pertaining to the Covid-19 vaccine.
