New Assembly Bill Would Prioritize Food Sector Workers For COVID-19 Vaccinations

A bill that would prioritize food supply industry workers, such as farm workers and supermarket workers, for COVID-19 vaccinations was introduced in the Assembly this week.

Assembly Bill 93, authored by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), would specifically prioritize those workers for testing and vaccination.

AB 93 has yet to be fleshed out in more detail, including where in line with other prioritized people would get testing and vaccinations, as well as if certain factors, such as immigration status or employment status, would play a role in prioritization.

Assemblyman Garcia, who introduced the bill earlier this week along with Assemblyman Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), said that he had written AB 93 to help mark field workers and other food sector workers as essential. As these workers are often the first ones handling it, it has been argued that  vaccinating them first would help reduce the chances of COVID-19 spread down the food transportation line to grocery stores across California.

“It’s those handling our food that are most exposed to, and spreading, the COVID-19 virus,” said Assemblyman Garcia on Monday. “We want to make sure that as we’ve labeled them essential, that they are part of the first rounds of vaccination.”

“To keep our grocery stores stocked and families fed throughout this pandemic, California’s farmworkers, grocery store, and other critical food sector workers face a heightened risk of exposure. Without question, these essential workers should be prioritized in receiving vaccinations. This measure moves to strengthen legislative safeguards for these vulnerable populations and ensures that we implement an equitable vaccine and rapid testing distribution plan now and in future pandemics,” added Garcia in a statement. “Our frontline workers should be at the front of the line. The stability of our food supply system relies on our ability to provide testing and vaccinations for these essential workers.”

Food sector workers in California, who are predominantly Hispanic, have seen extraordinarily high rates of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March. Studies have shown that COVID-19 transmission rates have been three times as high for field workers in the state and that a disruption due to a large outbreak could have national impact as California supplies 1/3rd of the Unites States’ vegetables and 2/3rds of the nation’s fruits and nuts.

“Farmworkers are three times more likely to contract COVID-19, yet they are the reason why we can go to the grocery store without worrying whether shelves will be stocked,” noted Assemblyman Rivas on Wednesday. “I’m proud to join Assemblyman Garcia in ensuring our farmworkers are prioritized when vaccines become available for COVID-19 and future pandemics. We cannot protect our food supply without first protecting our agricultural workers.”

Lingering questions over essential worker prioritization

However, despite additional support from local governments and unions over the vaccination prioritization for food sector workers, many others have argued that too many sectors are asking for priority and that health care workers and the most vulnerable populations should get treated first to allow for more assistance to others.

“While it is a good idea to vaccinate farm workers and grocery workers against COVID-19, there are just too many groups saying they need it right now,” Paris Carlyle, a UK-based disease control advisor, told the Globe. “In California in the United States, it does make more sense for food workers to get it simply because agriculture is a big part of the state, but you need to vaccinate those who can help stop this further first, and that means health care professionals.”

“You can make an argument for nearly every sector. In California, nearly every sector has tried to come out as being essential. Everyone from artists to Uber drivers. Right now, in California, the plan is health care workers and vulnerable people, at least for the first rollout. Deviating from that and adding another sector by law is dangerous. If it’s another round, adding millions more people who may qualify is also dangerous, because that means others who are also essential might mean they are out that.”

“The state needs to figure out a definite plan, and leaving it open to massive change could actually hurt people in the process.”

AB 93 is expected to be assigned to a committee in the coming weeks.