March 15, 2021

Tyson Foods vaccinates workers in Arkansas, Kansas and North Carolina, US

Tyson Foods, Inc. has offered free, onsite COVID-19 vaccinations last week to thousands of frontline team members in Arkansas, the United States, where 20% of the company's US workforce is based, as well as Kansas and North Carolina.

The vaccines are being provided in conjunction with Matrix Medical and local health departments in each of the three states, where food processing workers are among the priority group now eligible for vaccination.

"We've been working with Matrix Medical and health department officials to prepare for this moment and we're ready," said Tom Brower, senior vice president of health and safety for Tyson Foods. "We're pleased to offer our team members convenient access to the vaccine, and we appreciate state leaders recognising the essential role they play in feeding the world."

Tyson Foods officials expected many of the company's 24,000 Arkansas employees to be vaccinated during onsite events, beginning at its Fayetteville, Arkansas, plant on March 9 and its Berry St. plant in Springdale on March 10.

Additional vaccination events were planned last week for Tyson team members in Garden City, Kansas, and at Tyson facilities in Claremont, Monroe, Sanford and Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Nearly 10,000 of the company's US employees have recently been vaccinated either at onsite events or through an external source.

Approximately 1,300 team members were vaccinated on March 3-5 at Tyson's Waterloo, Iowa, pork plant.

In preparation for vaccinations, Tyson Foods has been providing expert resources and education about the vaccine to team members.

Tyson Foods continues to experience success in its efforts to protect workers from the virus, the company said. The incidence of the virus involving the company's US team members remains very low. 

- Tyson Foods