January 18, 2021

Tyson Foods focused on vaccine education and access

Tyson Foods, Inc. is partnering with Matrix Medical Network (Matrix), a leading clinical services company, to ensure the company's US team members are educated about and have access to the COVID-19 vaccines. 

Matrix will collaborate with Tyson Foods' health services team to deploy mobile health clinics and expert clinical staff to support vaccine communications, administration and counseling at Tyson Foods facilities beginning in early 2021 and continuing throughout the year. Tyson Foods will provide team members with third-party education information in multiple languages from resources such as the US Centers for Disease Control about the vaccines and vaccination process.

"Providing vaccine education and accessibility is a critical part of our ongoing commitment to put the health and safety of our team members first," said Dean Banks, president and CEO of Tyson Foods.

As the availability of the vaccine will vary by state, the company is committed to a long-term strategy that ensures any team member who wants a vaccine will receive one.

Vaccines will be administered at the earliest opportunity following guidance from health officials and in sufficient quantities to ensure effective scheduling and delivery. Tyson will strongly encourage employees to take the vaccination.

"Tyson and Matrix have worked together throughout the pandemic to create clinically driven strategies to mitigate the risk of the virus in the workplace," said Dr. Daniel Castillo, MD, chief medical officer of Matrix Medical Network. "Providing vaccinations and healthcare monitoring to Tyson employees is the next step in a comprehensive approach to fighting COVID-19 and establishing new ways of maintaining workplace health and safety for the future."

"Tyson workers are bravely serving on the frontlines so that millions of families can put food on the table during this crisis. Protecting these essential workers is vital to keeping our nation's food supply secure as the pandemic worsens, and this new Tyson partnership is a critical step toward achieving that," said Mark Lauritsen, vice president of United Food and Commercial Workers International. "As the largest union for America's food processing workers, UFCW will continue to work with industry leaders like Tyson in a unified effort to expedite vaccinations for workers who are essential to keeping our communities strong at this critical point in the pandemic."

Tyson Foods estimates more than half of its workforce has been tested for COVID-19. The company is currently testing thousands of workers per week as part of its industry-leading monitoring strategy.

In addition to testing those with symptoms or who have been in close contact with someone who has the virus, the company is also proactively testing workers who have no symptoms.

- Tyson Foods