Ahead of CDC Meeting Today on COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution, Union Highlights Increasing Risks Faced by Essential Workers with Hundreds Dead and Thousands More Infected Daily
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) – which represents 1.3 million food and retail workers – called on the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to prioritize essential workers in grocery, meatpacking, and food processing for early COVID-19 vaccine access. Ahead of today’s ACIP meeting on vaccine distribution, the union is urging the CDC to recognize the extraordinary service of these essential workers, who are overwhelmingly from communities of color and still on the frontlines of the pandemic as COVID-19 cases skyrocket across the country.
UFCW International President Marc Perrone released the following statement:
“America’s grocery, meatpacking, and food processing workers have been on the frontlines of this deadly pandemic since day one, putting themselves in harm’s way to feed our families during this crisis. As COVID-19 cases skyrocket, hundreds of these essential workers have already died and thousands more are infected daily as they serve our country by keeping our food supply secure.
“As the largest union for America’s essential workers in grocery, meatpacking, and food processing, UFCW is calling on the CDC to prioritize these brave men and women for early access to the COVID-19 vaccine immediately after health care workers. Protecting our country’s food workers is essential to keeping our communities safe and stopping future outbreaks in these high-exposure workplaces. CDC Director Redfield must recognize the vital role these essential workers serve by ensuring that they are among the first to receive access to the COVID-19 vaccine.”
BACKGROUND:
Health experts agree the CDC must prioritize essential workers like those in grocery, meatpacking, and food processing for early vaccine access, with these workers facing daily risk of exposure to COVID-19 as the pandemic continues.
“These essential workers are out there putting themselves at risk to allow the rest of us to socially distance. And they come from disadvantaged situations, they come from disadvantaged communities,” said Beth Bell, a University of Washington global health expert and ACIP member who chairs its COVID-19 vaccine working group.
“These workers are essential. They’re fundamental to our response to Covid. And they’re at risk because they work in close proximity to others,” said Henry Bernstein, chief of pediatrics at North Shore University Hospital.
UFCW recently confirmed the rapidly growing impact of COVID-19 on frontline workers. New numbers show that among the union’s members, there have been at least 350 frontline worker deaths and at least 48,000 frontline workers infected or exposed.
In grocery stores, the union reports there have already been at least 109 grocery worker deaths, including over 17,400 grocery workers infected or exposed to the virus.
In meatpacking plants, the union confirms there have already been at least 128 meatpacking worker deaths and over 19,800 meatpacking workers infected or exposed.
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The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries. Our members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at www.ufcw.org.