Cargill plant in High River -- Image from Cargill

By Connor Gunn

Alberta expanding vaccine to meat-packing workers

Apr 26, 2021 | 5:00 PM

EDMONTON, AB– The Alberta government is providing the COVID-19 vaccine to workers at meat-packing plants provincewide.

This move comes after multiple outbreaks at meat-packing plants across the province throughout the pandemic.

Starting April 27, vaccines will be offered to more than 15,000 workers at 136 federal and provincial plants across the province.

“We continue to progress through Phase 2C of Alberta’s vaccine rollout as quickly as vaccine supply from the federal government allows. I’m glad that we can now offer vaccines to protect these valued workers who contribute so much to Alberta’s and the entire country’s food supply system. As vaccine shipments continue to arrive, our focus will be getting those Albertans most at risk of severe outcomes vaccinated as quickly as possible,” says Premier Jason Kenney.

Meat-packing plant workers were identified as an eligible group under Phase 2C, and now with more vaccine shipments, workers are able to receive the shot.

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“Workers at federal meat-packing plants will be immunized using a combination of Primary Care Network clinics, public health clinics, or linkages to local pharmacies or AHS immunization sites. This includes the largest plants currently operating in the province: Olymel in Red Deer and Cargill in High River,” the release reads.

To speed up the vaccination process, those eligible are able to receive the shot at on-site clinics, pharmacies, and Alberta Health Services clinics.

“Protecting workplaces where large outbreaks can happen quickly is critical. Immunizing workers at meat-packing plants will go a long way to help keep these workers, their families, and communities safe. Immunization is key for Alberta to move forward past this pandemic,” says Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw.

The province also says the Cargill plant in High River will also be the focus of a pilot clinic led by a team of researchers from the University of Calgary.

More information on the vaccination process can be found here.