Newly confirmed Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has an opportunity to become the Biden administration’s biggest supporter for quickly and safely vaccinating meat workers against COVID-19. This would support the administration’s ambitious vaccination targets and demonstrate real commitment to the long-term safety of the 500,000 hardworking men and women who keep food on tables and our farm economy working.

Meat facilities are uniquely equipped and ready now to deliver vaccines efficiently to our diverse workforce. Meat facilities are also often located in rural communities where access to healthcare can be a challenge. Vaccinating front-line meat and poultry workers is the right thing to do and would rapidly advance President Biden’s national goal to “protect those most at risk and advance equity, including across racial, ethnic and rural/urban lines.”