December 14, 2020

Perdue Farms calls for multi-state plan for COVID-19 vaccine distribution in US

On December 10, Perdue Farms, the United States' fourth largest poultry producer which operates meat and poultry processing facilities in 15 states, called on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state governments to prioritise essential meat and poultry industry workers, and their families and co-habitants, for vaccine prioritisation as part of the US' Phase 1b of distribution.

Perdue also offered resources to assist the CDC and states in this effort, recognising that a successful vaccine programme will require partnership between government and private industry.

Specifically, as many meat and poultry industry workers - including Perdue associates - live in one state but work in another, Perdue urged the CDC and governors to develop a multi-state strategy for vaccine distribution and education efforts, to avoid confusion that a patchwork of state policies would create and that would potentially inhibit participation rates.

As stated in a Perdue letter (which was sent to several US state governors), to truly stop the spread of the coronavirus, and to protect the men and women who continue to support the US economy and food supply through their essential work, meat and poultry employees - and those who live with them-must be able to receive a vaccine as quickly as possible.

Additionally, Perdue offered to support state and federal health officials in multi-lingual educational and outreach efforts regarding the vaccine.

The company regularly works with local leaders in the communities where it operates and its associates live, and is ready to support the important work of education and information dissemination through direct employee communications and broader education efforts in these communities, Perdue said.

- Perdue