- The company's contribution during the pandemic amounts to almost 20 million euros
- The company has performed more than 685,000 tests and administered more than 113,000 vaccines, in collaboration with the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Fight AIDS and Infectious Diseases Foundation
- CASA SEAT, the second most prolific vaccination point after Fira de Barcelona, will become a permanent vaccination site in Catalonia
Barcelona, 02/03/2022 - Tackling COVID-19 has been one of SEAT S.A.'s greatest challenges since the pandemic began in 2020. Two years later, the company is taking stock of the economic impact of its mass vaccination and testing strategy, in collaboration with the Catalan health authorities and the Fight AIDS and Infectious Diseases Foundation, which has resulted in savings of almost 20 million euros for the health system.
The conclusions arise from an economic impact study that analysed the contribution of the actions carried out by SEAT S.A. since the beginning of the pandemic in terms of PCR and antigen tests carried out and vaccines administered, both to its employees and to the general population.
"In two years, we have conducted more than 685,000 tests and administered more than 113,000 vaccinations in partnership with public health. We have had to live through a time of uncertainty, and we have a responsibility as a company towards our environment and our community to contribute to returning society to normality", said Wayne Griffiths, President of SEAT S.A.
In a joint presentation at CASA SEAT, the President of SEAT S.A., Wayne Griffiths; the Minister of Health, Josep Maria Argimon; the Director of Health, Safety and Emergencies of SEAT S.A., Dr. Patricia Such; the President of the Fight AIDS and Infectious Diseases Foundation, Dr. Bonaventura Clotet, and Dr. Francesc López, Health Economist of the Fight AIDS and Infectious Diseases Foundation, explored the results of the last two years and announced that CASA SEAT will become a fixed vaccination site in Catalonia.
For his part, the Minister of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Josep Maria Argimon, said that “the human and technical resources provided by SEAT S.A. and its collaboration with the health system in Catalonia, have allowed us to reach areas where there was little vaccination coverage and thus improve the percentage of people immunized in Catalonia. From now on, CASA SEAT will be a permanent vaccination point.”
Dr. Bonaventura Clotet, President of the Fight AIDS and Infectious Diseases Foundation, added that “we don’t know if new variants will appear in the future that can easily re-infect people, such as Omicron, or different serotypes of the same variant. It is very important to have a space like CASA SEAT, accessible to the most vulnerable members of the population that will need to be vaccinated regularly in the future. SEAT S.A. has proven to be a great example of a supportive company that, despite also suffering from the crisis, contributed its resources to help society.”
Two years of commitment in the fight against COVID-19
In March 2020, SEAT S.A. demonstrated its commitment to society with the production of emergency respirators and masks to supply health centres. In addition, it was the first company in Spain to carry out PCR and antigen tests on all its employees. SEAT S.A.'s Director of Health, Safety and Emergencies, Dr. Patricia Such, explained that "SEAT S.A. is already analysing, alongside health experts, the data collected during the pandemic, which will serve, as a basis for research in the field of medical science.”
When the vaccination process began, the company placed its resources, both material and human, at the disposal of the public health system to join forces, speeding up the vaccination process and helping to immunise as many people as possible in the shortest possible time. Finally, Francesc López, health economist at the Fight AIDS Foundation, pointed out that "SEAT S.A.'s contribution during the pandemic has meant a saving of almost 20 million euros for the public health system.”
Successful case of public-private partnership
In 2021, SEAT S.A. reached an agreement with the Generalitat de Catalunya through which it agreed to cede resources to support public health services in the vaccination process. Thus, in May, it began to immunise the whole of society with SEAT S.A.'s own health personnel using "motor homes" (vehicles used during sporting competitions), adapted for health use.
Last summer, SEAT S.A. extended its support to the Balearic Islands to reinforce the immunisation process and contribute to its economic recovery. In addition, with the introduction of the Omicron variant, SEAT S.A. resumed the vaccination campaign in the province of Barcelona, which continues to this day.
