In cooperation with the local department of health and Vons Pharmacy, Foster Farms began offering the first dose of the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 to 1,000 employees of its poultry processing plant located on Cherry Avenue in Fresno on Feb. 2. The company plans to complete the administration of the first dose by Feb. 5 and follow up with the second dose in early March. The vaccines will be administered on-site at the plant by trained staff of Vons and supervised by a registered nurse.
The company said it has worked to protect employees from spreading the virus by implementing rigorous screening programs, including administering more than 100,000 COVID-19 tests over the past five months and adhering to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccination campaign, which is being administered in cooperation with the Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) and Vons Pharmacy represents the county’s first large-scale vaccination at a major food processing plant in the county, according to the company and it hopes to serve a model implemented at its other plants and for other food companies. The Fresno Health Department has prioritized the vaccination of agricultural workers along with healthcare workers and citizens over the age of 65 to ensure the safety of those at highest risk and protecting those employees and their communities. Read more