WATSONVILLE, Calif. — This week, hundreds of farmworkers in Santa Cruz County will receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A collaboration between Dignity Health Dominican Hospital, the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, and the California Strawberry Commission moved swiftly to begin immunizing area farmworkers.
Nearly a year ago, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, agricultural workers were deemed as essential workers supporting critical infrastructure to ensure a steady supply of food. Farm workers are especially important to grow and harvest local crops grown here on the Central Coast.
The California Strawberry Commission salutes the efforts of all partners:
- Dignity Health Dominican Hospital for vaccines and health care staff,
- Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency for administrative clearance, and
- Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau for event logistics.
The commission is pleased to provide staff logistical support for these events.
With the shifting changes in information regarding the current coronavirus pandemic, community partnerships play a crucial role to ensure equitable distribution of vaccine doses for the local workforce, helping to keep workers healthy and maintain critical functions in the community. We are hopeful that the state will support the allocation of vaccines to essential workers.
–California Strawberry Commission
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