COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions | February 17, 2021
If you have additional questions that are not listed, please contact [email protected].
Heaven Hill COVID-19 Policies and Resources
Where should I go if I have a question about COVID-19, test positive or have an exposure?
We have set up a COVID-19 Hotline, which is staffed 24/7 to address your questions and concerns. U.S.-based employees should call 502-337-0878., and international employees should dial 001-502-337-0878.
If I tested positive or had an exposure, and I work offsite, am I required to report this?
Yes. For our contact tracing purposes, please report any exposure – close contact for over 15 minutes with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 – and positive test or clinical diagnosis to the COVID-19 Hotline.
Can I use paid time off if I have a positive COVID test or exposure and must isolate at home?
Until such time that an impacted employee has access to a complete dosage of a vaccine, Heaven Hill will pay the wages of employees who are primary contacts or are exposed and subsequently test positive for COVID-19 while working at a Heaven Hill facility for up to two (2) weeks while quarantined/recovering. Once vaccines have been made available to Heaven Hill employees, wages will not be paid for quarantine or recovery unless such employee is covered by an established exemption under law. Employees can use PTO at their discretion to cover recovery time, with manager approval. To discuss exemptions, please contact HR. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or had a recent exposure, please call the COVID-19 Hotline at 502-337-0878 or 001-1-502-337-0878 (international) for more details.
We offer an Employee Assistance Program through Aetna. Aetna Resources for Living offers emotional well-being support, daily life assistance, discounts, legal services, financial services and more. For additional information, see our flyer.
Will the availability of vaccines and ability of employees to receive vaccines affect plans for returning to the office for corporate employees?
It may. The availability of vaccines is a factor in our plans to return employees to the office. We will keep you updated and informed.
If I have received one or both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and test positive for the virus, will I receive pay?
To discuss your specific situation, please contact our COVID Hotline at 502-337-0878.
If I am a primary contact (within 6 feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for 15 minutes) or am exposed to COVID-19, and I have received both doses of the vaccine, do I need to quarantine?
Please contact our COVID Hotline at 502-337-0878 for further directions.
I have received one or both doses of the vaccine, and I am experiencing side effects common with the vaccine. Will I be permitted to work?
If you cannot pass the health screening questions, you should not come to work. For additional details, please contact the COVID Hotline at 502-337-0878.
Will Health and Safety have access to the list of employees who have been vaccinated?
Yes, Health and Safety will have access to manage our compliance with contact tracing and quarantine protocols.
What should I do if I have a vaccine appointment while I am scheduled to be working?
You are encouraged to schedule a vaccination appointment on a day you are not scheduled to work. If that is not possible, please work with your supervisor to ensure they are aware of your plans to use time away from work for your vaccine appointment.
If you are a:
Union employee, please submit a vacation request for a day or half-day to your supervisor
Non-union hourly employee, please submit a request for sick or personal time for a day or half-day to your supervisor
Salaried employee, please submit a request for sick or vacation time for a day or half-day to your supervisor
Why should I consider getting a COVID-19 vaccination?
Getting your shot is one important way you can contribute to the health of our team, our distributors, our partners and our customers. That’s why we are strongly encouraging you to get your vaccine, as it becomes available to your priority group, in your community.
It is true that if you are not identified as part of a contact tracing effort and tied directly to a work exposure, you will not be paid for time off during your COVID-positive period. However, if you have received the vaccine and are connected to a COVID exposure at work that results in a positive COVID test, you will be paid for your quarantine time.
General
What vaccines are currently available?
The two vaccines currently available are the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine. As of December 28, 2020, large-scale clinical trials were in progress on three other vaccines.
Both are mRNA vaccines and administered in two doses. Doses of Pfizer vaccine are given 21 days apart, and doses of the Moderna vaccine are administered 27 days apart.
How effective are COVID-19 vaccines?
Early results from two studies of COVID-19 vaccines show that the vaccines are about 95% effective at preventing people from getting sick with COVID-19.
How many doses do I need to receive?
Two doses, about three to four weeks apart. Data show the second dose improves immune response.
Where on the body are shots given?
In the muscle of the upper arm.
If I had COVID-19 previously, am I now immune?
This is still unknown. According to public health officials, just because you’ve had COVID-19, doesn’t mean you can’t get it again.
Vaccine Safety
Are the vaccines safe?
All vaccines are rigorously tested and evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This process began in March 2020, and several COVID-19 vaccine candidates were developed and approved for testing, including candidates from Moderna, Pfizer and others.
Can I get sick with COVID-19 from a vaccination?
The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine cannot give someone COVID-19, and it does not interact with human DNA, because it never enters the nucleus of the cell.
These vaccines give our cells the ability to make what’s called a ‘spike protein.’ This protein is on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19. The immune system recognizes the protein as foreign and begins making antibodies, which teaches the body to protect against future COVID-19 infection.
This process may cause some short-term reactions to the vaccine for some people, particularly with the second dose, but the vaccine does not infect a person with the COVID virus.
What are the vaccines’ side effects?
You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.
Common side effects include pain and swelling in the arm where you received the shot and fever, tiredness, chills and headache through the rest of the body.
If you have pain or discomfort, talk to your doctor about taking an over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Apply a cool, clean washcloth over the area where you received your shot, and use or exercise your arm. To reduce discomfort from fever, drink plenty of fluids and dress lightly.
Contact your doctor if redness or tenderness where you received the shot, increases after 24 hours or if side effects are worrying and don’t go away within a few days.
If you get a COVID-19 vaccine, and you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination site, seek immediate medical care by calling 911.
What are the vaccines’ possible long-term side effects?
While the possible long-term side effects are unknown, our country’s long history of making vaccines and the short-term safety data give confidence to scientists that COVID-19 vaccine recipients are safe in the long-term. One reason is because the vaccine cannot enter the nuclei of our human cells.
Who approves vaccines?
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, and all vaccines must meet the FDA’s high safety and quality standards.
There is no official timeline for developing a vaccine, and in a public health emergency, manufacturers can have vaccines released through an Emergency Use Authorization.
I’m trying to conceive or am currently pregnant. How safe is the vaccine for me?
We encourage you to discuss any concerns you have about the vaccination with your healthcare provider and review the current guidance from the CDC as you make your decision.
Science
How do the vaccines work in the body?
Vaccines work by mimicking the infectious bacteria or virus that causes disease to stimulate our immune systems and build up resistance.
How are the COVID-19 vaccines different from common vaccines?
Some vaccines contain weakened versions of the bacteria or virus, or just a portion of the organism. These are called antigens, and they kick-start the body’s immune system so it is ready to defend the body if exposed to the disease-causing organism.
But the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna are a new type of vaccine, called an mRNA vaccine (messengerRNA). Instead of exposing the body to a weakened version of COVID-19, mRNA vaccines send cells a tiny genetic message that triggers an immune response.
Availability
When will vaccines become available in my community?
Everyone who wants a vaccine will eventually get one. However, supplies will be limited initially. Health experts have recommended vaccinating those most at risk first. Healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 are the first group to get the vaccine.
More people will get vaccines as supply increases throughout 2021 and will be available to anyone.
Each state has developed its own plan for distribution/allocation, including determining the providers and settings for the first available vaccines.
Click here to visit the CDC website to find a COVID-19 vaccination location in your community. If you live within the state of Kentucky, you can use this site to determine your current eligibility. Texas residents can access vaccine hub information here.
Does Heaven Hill plan to offer vaccines on site its facilities?
Heaven Hill is currently exploring partnerships with local health officials to bring vaccination opportunities to some of our larger employee population sites. We will provide more details as soon as vaccine supply and logistics align.
In the meantime, we encourage you to seek out the vaccine through other sources: for instance, our employee population is eligible currently in Kentucky, as we’re under the essential worker classification.
When will it be my turn to receive a COVID-19 vaccination?
Guidelines are set individually by state. To find your local health department and determine when you qualify, click here.
The provider who is administering my vaccine requires proof from my employer that I’m part of my priority group. What should I bring to my appointment?
Please plan to bring your employee ID. If you do not have an employee ID, download the ADP app and show pay stubs as verification. If you need additional support from HR, please email [email protected].
How do I find out which priority group I belong to?
Each state has its own vaccine distribution plan. But generally, employees of Heaven Hill fall within the 1C priority group, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Will I be able to choose which vaccine I receive?
No. Providers will deliver doses of the vaccine, according to the supply received.
I do not have a computer. How can I schedule a vaccine appointment in Louisville?
Call the Lou Health COVID Helpline at 502-912-8598 for assistance.
Exemptions
What is the basis for an exemption from receiving the vaccine?
An exemption is available for employees with a statutorily defined medical condition/disability or sincerely-held religious belief. If you have questions about exemptions, please contact HR.
Which employees are exempt from vaccines for medical reasons?
All 50 states provide an exemption for medical conditions, and these are defined on a state-by-state basis. Medical conditions/disabilities are generally covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To discuss medical exemptions, please contact HR.
Which employees are exempt from vaccines for sincerely-held religious reasons?
The majority of states provide an exemption for sincerely-held religious reasons, and those are defined on a state-by-state basis. Only a select few states provide an exemption for philosophical reasons which are also defined by statute. Please contact HR with questions about exemptions for sincerely-held religious reasons.
What happens if I’m exempt and cannot receive a vaccine?
If you are exempt for statutorily-defined reasons, Heaven Hill will make reasonable accommodations where possible (e.g. face masks, social distancing, limited contact, etc.) to allow you and the remainder of the workforce to continue to work without significant risk or substantial harm to health and safety. Heaven Hill will rely on OSHA standards and CDC recommendations to determine what accommodation is “reasonable.” In some cases, reasonable accommodation may not be available.
Cost
How much will vaccines cost?
In most cases, vaccines are available free of charge. You will not need to pay a vaccine administration fee or any other extra charge. The federal government has arranged to buy the vaccine and send it to healthcare providers and clinics, and those receiving it must agree to inoculate people without charging them. HooPayz is a financial wellness company we work with, and their advisors can help confirm your coverage. For more information, call HooPayz directly at 866-981-4991. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
I received my vaccines. How do I get reimbursed from Heaven Hill?
If you did incur a cost, please submit proof of vaccination to Human Resources at [email protected], and they will process a reimbursement to you via payroll, within 30 days.
Will Heaven Hill work with a third-party to provide vaccines to employees?
Yes. Once the vaccine is widely available, Heaven Hill will work with a third-party to provide vaccines to employees who have not received them yet. Currently, we are strongly encouraging you to receive your vaccine with your priority group, in your community.
After the Vaccine
I do not need reimbursement for my vaccine. Do I still need to tell Heaven Hill that I received my vaccinations?
Yes, Heaven Hill will request proof of vaccination of any employee that (I) works in a Heaven Hill facility, or (ii) attends in-person meetings or events on behalf of Heaven Hill. Please contact Human Resources at [email protected] to provide documentation showing you received the required doses of the vaccine, and ensure any documentation only confirms receipt of vaccine. Do not include any ancillary or unnecessary medical information in the documentation provided to HR.
Yes. Vaccines are an important tool in our toolkit to fight COVID-19, but we still need to use all of our tools to end this pandemic. This means it’s still important to:
- Wear a mask
- Stay 6 feet apart from others whenever possible
- Wash your hands
- If you work at a Heaven Hill site, stay home if you’re sick
FAQ Sources:
- HooPayz
- Aetna
- UNC Health COVID-19 Information Hub
- National Association of County Health Officials
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control
- Team Kentucky
- Texas Health and Human Services
