Amazon to vaccinate frontline workers in fulfillment centers

Amazon plans to start vaccinating frontline employees in the next few weeks, starting with fulfillment centers in Missouri, Nevada and Kansas.

Why it matters: Amazon and its subsidiary Whole Foods employed more than 1.3 million frontline workers in the U.S. between March and September last year. About 1.4% of those employees, more than 19,800, tested or were presumed positive, as of October 2020. 

Details: Amazon said Thursday it “will expand the program across the country as more vaccines become available to front-line employees in other states.”

• Workers who can't access an Amazon vaccination site will receive up to $80 in reimbursement for an off-site shot, as previously announced in February.

But don't forget, workers have criticized Amazon throughout the pandemic for inadequately protecting them against the coronavirus.