Amazon is helping vaccinate thousands of people through pop-up clinics in Washington State and Florida. Amazon is lending support to President Joe Biden’s administration in its effort to vaccinate 100 million people in the first 100 days of his presidency. Amazon is advocating for COVID-19 vaccinations for their front-line employees, including team members working in fulfillment and data centers, and at Whole Foods Market stores. Amazon quickly ramped-up onsite COVID-19 testing for employees thanks to the ingenuity of their fast-moving response team. Amazon is also heavily invested in supporting employees, customers, and communities during the pandemic, from enhancing safety measures to increasing paid time-off.
Amazon provided more than $2.5 billion in bonuses and incentives for their teams globally in 2020. Amazon made over 150 process updates, including enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures, and implemented disinfectant spraying and temperature checks across operations worldwide. Amazon distributed personal protective gear, including millions of masks for employees. An employee diagnosed with COVID-19 receives up to two weeks of paid time off—in addition to other paid and unpaid time off options. Amazon employees receive comprehensive health benefits starting on Day 1 of employment. Amazon established a $25 million relief fund for partners, such as delivery drivers, and seasonal associates facing financial hardship or quarantine. With an eye on customers, Amazon is vigorously combating price gouging to ensure fair pricing and fight entities seeking to profit off the COVID-19 crisis. Amazon is also looking ahead to help upskill America’s workforce.
On February 3, The Amazon Fulfillment Center team in Tucson, Arizona, launched a four-week volunteer commitment to support the community distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The drive-through clinic opened in mid-January as part of a larger effort to set up several vaccination sites in southern Arizona. The clinic is expected to serve up to 150,000 eligible residents in the Tucson area. Nearly 20 Amazon employees committed to donating more than 2,000 volunteer hours to support registration, supply, and traffic coordination, and staff the post-vaccination observation area.
On February 1, Amazon supported Colorado Governor Jared Polis in an initiative to deliver up to 2 million at-home COVID-19 test kits to teachers, staff, and selected students from public school districts, charter schools, private schools, and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services from across the state. Through Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will store the test kits in Amazon’s fulfillment center in Thornton, just north of Denver. Amazon will then deliver the kits directly to teachers, school staff, and selected students. Amazon Web Services worked with the Governor’s Office of Information Technology to develop the system by using a health department portal that integrates with Amazon’s fulfillment network to manage orders.
On January 31, Amazon and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health completed a second vaccination clinic at the Amazon Meeting Center where 2,200 residents received their first shot. The previous Sunday, 2,400 received COVID-19 vaccinations. The clinics are part of Amazon’s effort to support communities and advocate for vaccinations for its front-line employees.
On January 29, Amazon helped Virginia Mason Franciscan Health vaccinate 2,000 people who were eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Residents could use the state’s Phase Finder online tool to check their eligibility and then sign-up on Virginia Mason’s waitlist for the January 31 vaccination clinic at the Amazon Meeting Center. More than 2,400 people received their first dose of the vaccine through a similar clinic on Amazon’s campus on January 24.