Employees at meat processing plants are now receiving vaccinations nationwide

Workers at food processing plants nationwide are now eligible for the vaccine in at least 26 states, a New York Times survey concluded. In at least six additional states, food processing workers qualify for the vaccine but not in every county. Early on in the pandemic, meat processing facilities had some of the largest reported Covid-19 outbreaks in the country. Despite the risk of infection, many processing facilities have remained open, leaving workers in tightly crowded assembly lines and cramped working spaces. Some employers are offering monetary incentives to encourage workers to get vaccinated: At a JBS pork production plant in Worthington, Minnesota, the company held a mass vaccination event and offered employees $100 for receiving the vaccine. Additionally, union representatives at many facilities are sharing information about the vaccine to respond to any skepticism their members may have.