Source: NC FARMWORKER HEALTH PROGRAM, 7/20/21
Dear agricultural partners, We want to make sure you are aware of a situation that we are
monitoring closely as it relates to COVID-19 cases among the migrant farmworker
community. There have been at least 9 COVID-19 cases, including at least 4
hospitalizations and one potentially related death, among the 393 H2A workers
who arrived to Vass, NC on June 26th.
Although the vast majority of workers received the J&J vaccine upon arrival
that day, we are concerned about the risk of exposure these workers had during
the long bus ride from Mexico and during the shared transportation to their
assigned farms located in 36 counties. As you know, it takes at least 14 days
after the injection for the vaccine to provide its full protection. We have contacted the NC State Cooperative Extension representative
and the outreach worker on the local farmworker vaccine teams in the 36
counties that received these workers so that they can follow up with the
growers and workers respectively to see how the workers are doing and to see if
any assistance is needed. This highlights that
although the vaccination efforts have been very successful so far, there is
still risk of COVID-19 infection and transmission, especially during the 14 day
period needed for the vaccine to provide its full protection once administered
and among those who decline the vaccine. We are asking for
assistance in sharing the following messages among growers: 1. Vaccinations remain the best tool to protect against COVID-19. It should be your highest priority to offer the vaccine to your workers as quickly as possible upon arrival to prevent large outbreaks, lost production and to save lives. 2. It is
important for vaccinated individuals to continue to wear masks and reduce close
exposure to others until 14 days finishing a COVID-19 vaccine series. 3. It is
important for all workers, regardless of their vaccination status to continue
to wear masks when being transported with others, since this is a high risk
activity and it is often difficult to know who has been vaccinated or not. 4. It is
recommended to quarantine newly arrived workers from your established workforce
to prevent the possible transmission of COVID-19 If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to
contact me or email vaccine4farmworkers@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your assistance, The NC Farmworker Health Program Team Elizabeth Freeman Lambar, MSW, MPH NC Farmworker Health Program, Program Manager Office of Rural Health
elizabeth.freeman@dhhs.nc.gov 311 Ashe Avenue, Cooke Building 2009 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-2009 NC Department of Health and Human Services Find a vaccine location, get
questions answered and more at YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov. To view NCDHHS' interim COVID guidance for migrant farmworkers and their employers, click here. For Spanish version, click here. To view NCDHHS' guidance checklist, click here. For Spanish version, click here.
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