Union says meatpacking workers should be vaccinated sooner

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JOSH FUNK

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Hundreds of meatpacking workers have been vaccinated against the coronavirus but the union that represents many of them says several hundred thousand more have not, despite the risks they continue to face at work.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International union is lobbying for workers to be moved up vaccination priority lists, and major meat companies have launched campaigns to educate employees and dispel rumors about the vaccines. One has offered bonuses to workers who get vaccinated.

But in most states, meatpacking workers are still waiting for their turn to be vaccinated and are ranked behind health care workers, residents of long-term care centers and people aged 65 and older.

Marc Perrone, UCFW president, argues that meatpacking workers, grocery store employees and other essential workers should be vaccinated ahead of older people who don’t have other health conditions.



FILE- In this Feb. 2, 2021 file photo, Tyson Foods team members receive Covid-19 vaccines from health officials at the Wilkesboro, N.C. facility. Hundreds of meatpacking workers have been vaccinated against the coronavirus but the union that represents them says several hundred thousand more have not, despite the risks they continue to face at work. (Melissa Melvin/AP Images for Tyson Foods File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/lobbying-coronavirus-pandemic-995fdcf74f5b14026931a77ec0e83b10

[Tumbulu]

1. Absolutely!

Here in CA, I have a farm and am 65.

It was going to be 75+ after healthcare workers.
Then Essential workers
Then 65+
Then people with preexisting conditions making them vulnerable.

But they switched it to anyone over 65 and all these retired people with lots of time on their hand went online or waited on the phone for hours to get appointments. Working people over 65 did not have time to wait on hold 4 hours! So, all these people my age who had retired were vaccinated weeks before I was.

And the truck drivers and all the Ag workers who commute together and work in situations where they are more exposed are not protected.

It feels so unfair. And it should come through ones employer too, one should not have to wait on hold hours,

Ok, I am grateful to have gotten a vaccine, grateful beyond words that they exist. But I really really wish that essential workers had been made a priority. And this county by county thing is yet another problem.

Thank goodness Biden is in office. I have hope that in time it will be made more fair.

[progree]

2. I think it is the states that are determining the priorities as far as age, occupation, and health

conditions.

I'm over 65, retired, and can and am staying home. I could horn in, but I think that front line workers, and yes, people in Covid-dangerous occupations like meat-packing, should get it first. I'm still reading about healthcare workers who still can't get the shot.

I'm in Minnesota. And insanely, as far as age groups, they decided to do all 65+ at the same time all in the same priority. None of this 85+ first, then 75+, then 65+ like some other states.

[Tumbulu]

6. You are correct

It is just painful to watch frontline essential workers left behind here, in my State. I did not expect it to happen in CA.

People tell me it is all about the 65+ being most likely to be hospitalized and it is sort of a triage thing for the hospitals first. So I know it is a no win situation created by the terrific mismanagement of the T admin.

I am just grateful more vaccines are on the way.

Hoping that you get yours soon. I am 4 days now since the first vaccine and every moment a tiny tiny new part of me begins to relax. I wonder how it will feel to no longer worry about this.

[progree]

7. Hadn't heard the hospital triage thing before in regard to say 65-70 year olds

getting priority over, for example, a dentist. And from what I've seen of the statistics, the Covid death rates (and I'm sure hospitalization rates too) of an 85+ year old are far far higher than for younger seniors.

Here's what my state senator, a (D), has to say. She is NOT a screamer or screecher, I've never seen or heard her being so clearly angry about anything, it's just not her style.

from Senator Ann Rest
DFL New Hope, District 45 is saying. From her constituent email newsletter dated Jan 24 (the emphasis and the double parenthesis inserts are Progree's) :

Last week MDH ((Minnesota Dept of Health)) launched a program to allow people 65+ to sign up for appointments for the vaccine. It was a disaster. Some constituents or a family member were on the phone waiting for five hours only to get an appointment in Marshall ((150 miles away)) or to be dropped completely. There is only one site in Hennepin County where 20 percent of Minnesota’s population lives. One local couple, feeling desperate, flew to Billings, Montana, for the vaccine and will return in four weeks for their second dose. Other states are doing what appears to be a much better job. Illinois started with an age threshold of 85+ and that seems to be working smoothly. So too are the programs in Georgia and North Carolina. Our system crashed, totally predictable. There may be reasons, but there is no excuse.

When I get vaccinated, I will still be extremely very cautious. The infection rate, though it may have dropped by 90% or whatever in my state, is still at levels we had in June and September, for example. I read good news and bad news about variants, vaccines, and all that. Yes, undoubtedly the vaccines help a lot, but suspect it will be at best still much worse than the flu as far as endemic fatality rates.

Edited to add: I am dreading the next phase -- when just about everyone thinks its safe and only scaredy cats wear masks and try to social distance from the huggers and glad handers -- they have that attitude already in some red areas, but I dread when it becomes pretty much the universal attitude everywhere.

[James48]

3. This is why we need a universal public health system

to distribute vaccine.

Yes, absolutely, meat packing workers should be high on the priority list.

The good thing is at least we are making some progress at getting people vaccinated. another month or two and those kind of critical workers should be able to be vaccinated.

We should also be working directly with Unions to help schedule vaccinations- in Union halls. That ought to be a perk of being a Union member- getting early access to vaccine. Come on, Man, let's get Joe to hook Union members up! Especially in all those "right to work" states. Let Union members go first.

[OnlinePoker]

4. Why? It's not working very well here in Canada.

Aside from the issues with actually getting the vaccines from the manufacturers, every province and territory has their own way of administering it. Only 2.5% of Canadians have received at least one dose. I'll be 60 in November. If I'm lucky, based on the schedule from the BC government, I might have the vaccine by then.

[marble falls]

5. I agree. And people who engage in the riskiest behaviors, barhoppers, students, mega churchers, etc.

[benld74]

8. MORE of the government leaders

Failing their citizens