Thursday, January 14, 2021

Meat packers second in line for vaccinations

Farmers are welcoming Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s decision that meat processing company employees will rank as second priority to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.


A coalition of beef, hog, veal, and sheep farmers joined with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Canadian Meat Council and Meat and Poultry Ontario in requesting priority.


“We are extremely appreciative of the response and actions taken by the Government of Ontario and the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force to prioritize front line essential workers and their access to vaccines in the fight against COVID-19,” said president Rob Lipsett of Beef Farmers of Ontario.


 “We recognize first responders, healthcare workers, and those in long-term care must be prioritized in terms of first access to vaccines,” he said.

“However, we are thankful meat processing essential workers have been identified as a priority for phase two of the vaccination rollout,” Lipsett said.