Well before the 9 a.m. start time, dozens of Immokalee farmworkers lined up for COVID-19 vaccines beneath an overhang near vacant stores at a strip mall. Polonne Colin, 65, was among the first at the pop-up clinic.
The main reason she opted for the vaccine now, though she was eligible earlier: she sees everyone she knows getting it.
Rural health advocates who have ramped up efforts to reach farmworkers say demand for the vaccine is strong. And despite media reports and lawmakers concerns that Florida s residency requirements are hindering vaccination efforts for farmworkers, advocates say health officials are finding ways around them.
No Florida ID? Health workers making vaccines possible for farmworkers
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Sunburn — The morning read of what s hot in Florida politics — 3 17 21
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Immigration overhaul bill may reform Florida farm working conditions
In Florida, the majority of farmworkers are immigrants who hail from South and Central America, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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Farmworkers at a Volusia County fernery receive receive water bottles and safety guidance on heat stress in 2019. [ Farmworker Association of Florida ]
By Dalia Faheid, Medill News Service
Published Mar. 15
Updated Mar. 15
WASHINGTON â Working conditions for Floridaâs undocumented farmworkers could drastically improve under recently proposed immigration reform legislation that would put them on a long-awaited path to citizenship while also providing labor protections.
âItâs something that needs to happen. Weâve been relying on imported farm labor forever, and we need to do right by the people who pick our fruits and vegetables,â said Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli, general coordinator at the Farmworker Associati