SPRINGDALE, Ark. — Tyson Foods Inc. will offer free, onsite COVID-19 vaccinations to thousands of frontline workers at its Iowa plants this week, the company announced Monday. Employees at the Perry plant will get their shots “at or near” the facility, the company said.
The vaccines are being provided in conjunction with local health departments across the state of Iowa, where food processing workers are among the priority group now eligible for vaccination.
“We’ve been working with Matrix Medical, Hy-Vee and health department officials across Iowa to prepare for this moment, and we’re ready,” said Tom Brower, senior vice president of Health and Safety for Tyson Foods. “We’re pleased to offer our team members convenient access to the vaccine, and we appreciate the state of Iowa recognizing the essential role they play in feeding the world.”
Tyson Foods officials expect many of the company’s 13,000 Iowa employees to be vaccinated later this week at or near company facilities in Columbus Junction, Council Bluffs, Independence, Perry, Sioux City, Storm Lake and Waterloo.
More than 2,000 of the company’s U.S employees were recently vaccinated either at onsite events or through an external source. About 800 team members were vaccinated Feb. 19-20 at Tyson’s beef plant in Joslin, Illinois.
Tyson Foods said the company has been providing expert resources and education about the vaccine to workers in preparation for the vaccinations. This information is available in multiple languages and team members also have access to a hotline to ask questions.
In addition to offering free, on-site vaccinations, the company also recently announced compensation of up to four hours of regular pay if workers are vaccinated outside of their normal shift or through an external source.
