This news item will be updated as additional information becomes available. February 23, 2021 — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced additional definitions for ag worker eligibility for a COVID-19 vaccine, effective March 1. This definition covers many in agriculture, although it does not include every segment of the agricultural value chain. Food and Ag Worker Definition: The state’s food and agriculture sector is critical to feeding Michiganders, the continuity of the economy and spans a wide range of jobs. Within the sector, workers at the highest risk are those who must work in close proximity to many other people for extended periods of time. In Michigan and across the country, there have been significant outbreaks particularly in processing of meat, fruit and vegetable processing, and in harvesting of some crops. Therefore, our priority is on: Food processing workers including especially meat processing and meatpacking facilities; processing of fruit and vegetables; dairy processing; animal feed manufacturing; food and animal feed ingredient manufacturing; beverage production; and the production of food packaging. Farmers and farm workers, including migrant and seasonal workers, involved in raising, cultivating, harvesting, packing, storing, and distributing agricultural commodities, and who are by the nature of their work in close proximity and contact with other people. We encourage you to continue to register with your local health department (where applicable) and private sector partners such as Meijer and SpartanNash that are offering COVID-19 vaccines. You will be contacted when you have an opportunity to get the vaccine. February 15, 2021 — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services today announced that “workers in food processing and agricultural settings” will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine beginning March 1. The announcement from MDHHS is available here. Notably, the official prioritization guidance has been updated and moved food and ag from May (where it previously was listed) to March. Statement from MABA MABA issued the following statement today: “Today’s announcement is very positive news for the dedicated workers who keep Michigan’s food and agricultural supply chain moving, the rural communities many of them call home, and agricultural businesses that contribute greatly to our state’s economy. The Michigan Agri-Business Association and our members will continue to work closely with state and local officials to promote vaccination among food processing and agricultural workers, and we appreciate our state government’s efforts to get a vaccine to these essential workers as soon as possible.” We will continue to share more information as it becomes available. The below guidance from Feburary 1 remains valid. Contact MABA staff with any questions you have. February 1, 2021 — There continues to be substantial uncertainty about what the future holds with COVID-19 vaccine distribution. However, there have been a number of updates during the past few weeks of interest to MABA members. Here is what you need to know: The main problem right now is getting enough vaccines into Michigan to meet demand. We recommend you review this AP story for an outline of this issue. When will food and agricultural workers be eligible for a vaccine? Please see the updated information above from February 15. Vaccine communication and procedures continue to vary from county to county. This is important because counties are handling vaccine distribution differently subject to conditions locally. This page has been updated with additional information from various health departments and details regarding how officials in your county are proceeding. Some counties provide more information than others at this time. We recommend reviewing procedures for counties where you do business; again, procedures vary by locality. Obviously this is a complex and sometimes frustrating situation to navigate, however we also recognize many people are working hard at the local and state government levels to make distribution work. We expect things to become more “uniform” as the vaccination effort gains traction, so for the time being recommend closely following your county-specific information. Here are things you can do in the interim: Review your county-level health guidance available at the link above. Different counties have different procedures. Most counties are now discouraging calls to their offices due to volume, but post information on their websites. Meijer, SpartanNash and many local counties are creating registries of individuals ready to get a vaccine. Anyone can register to be notified when they are eligible; the Meijer and Spartan registration processes provide an area to designate that you work in the food/agricultural sector. The Meijer registration page is here and the SpartanNash registration page is here. While there may be additional guidance once we reach the stage where food and agricultural workers are being vaccinated, there is no reason not to register online now. Plan ahead for the time at which there is sufficient vaccine and have discussions with your employees about their interest in getting it when available. While the information about logistics of vaccination are changing, the facts about the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine are not. Anyone with questions about the vaccine should have access to answers. MABA is happy to work with you to provide employee-facing information related to the approved vaccines. State government and industry will work together to encourage people to get the vaccine, and rural areas will not be left out. MABA serves as rural advisory chair for the state’s ‘Protect Michigan Commission,’ a role we hope will enable us to keep you as up-to-date as possible during this rapidly evolving situation.
