SALINAS, CA - With discussion of COVID-19 vaccinations for ag workers continuing to make its way through the industry, D’Arrigo California announced that it was approved as one of the first sites for mass vaccinations for workers in Monterey County. The company partnered with Grower-Shipper Association of Central California (GSA) and Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas (CSVS), to host a one-day, drive-thru clinic.
“We collaborated with key health and agricultural industry stakeholders to host the first mass vaccination site for agricultural workers in Monterey County. Our goal was to provide meaningful, strategic, and prevention-oriented actions to protect the health and safety of our industry’s agricultural workers,” stated John D’Arrigo, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board, D’Arrigo California.
The vaccination clinic took place on Thursday, February 25, 2021 and was in line with Monterey County’s eligibility criteria, with vaccines being offered to Monterey County residents ages 65 and over who were at risk for exposure while working in agriculture, according to a release from the company.
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Through the efforts of D’Arrigo and its partners, approximately 300 essentiral ag workers from 42 companies across Monterey County were able to receive the Moderna vaccine.
“It is truly an honor to be entrusted to receive and to manage such a valuable resource as this vaccine. When future generations of Americans look back at this moment of our history, we can all smile proudly knowing that all people came together in the Salinas Valley in a concerted effort guided by medical and public health strategies to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among our people,” commented Dr. Max Cuevas, MD, CEO, Clinica De Salud Del Valle De Salinas.
As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas received the supply of vaccines designated for food and agricultural workers directly from the federal government.
“CSVS and GSA began working on a vaccination distribution system as soon as we learned about their potential availability,” said Christopher Valadez, GSA President. “We knew it was crucial to have an effective and efficient appointment-based program in place before harvesting began in the spring to protect these essential workers.”
The collaboration between CSVS and GSA was built upon a partnership that was launched in June 2020 to provide increased access to COVID-19 tests for farm workers with expedited results.
Due to the success of the first clinic, D’Arrigo CA has also announced that a second vaccination clinic has been approved at its headquarters in Salinas on Thursday, March 25, for agricultural workers.
As more updates become available in regards to the vaccine and the fresh produce industry, ANUK will continue to report.
D'Arrigo CaliforniaGrower-Shipper AssociationClinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas
