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Efforts to vaccinate farmworkers hindered by eligibility By Max Bayer U.S. vaccination efforts picking up speed As the Biden administration expands vaccine supply across the country, a federal program aimed at vaccinating agricultural workers has hit a roadblock in states where they aren t eligible, elevating concerns that vulnerable workers are being put on the backburner. Federally funded health centers, which serve more than 1 million agricultural workers nationwide, have played a key role in inoculating farmers. These centers also serve a significantly larger percentage of people of color compared to other facilities a trend that s reflected in vaccine administration, according to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation. ....
But there should be one, say farmworker advocates, given the barriers to access. “What we have is a situation where people who have Internet access, people who are very connected, are the ones who are receiving the vaccine,” said Julia Perkins of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a force for farmworker advocacy in Florida. “There must be an understanding of the unique needs of vulnerable communities.” Farmworkers’ fears Agricultural workers feel particularly susceptible to COVID-19 infection. On a recent evening, Martin Victoria joined the line for COVID-19 testing in the eastern Collier County town of Immokalee, one of several inland Florida rural communities that emerged as virus hotspots last year. ....
What is Florida’s plan for vaccinating thousands of farmworkers? It’s unclear Janine Zeitlin, Naples Daily News Florida counts more than 100,000 farmworkers, but the governor has not announced a plan for when or how to reach this vulnerable population with the state’s limited COVID-19 vaccinations. Because of their high risk and role in bringing fresh produce to tables during the winter season, advocates and the state’s agriculture commissioner say they should be included in the next wave of shots. Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Commissioner Nikki Fried has “strongly advocated” that farmworkers and agriculture personnel be included in the “critical infrastructure category,” likely the next phase, wrote Franco Ripple, the agency’s communications director, in an email. ....