North American aquaculture and seafood harvesting workers are on front line for jab.
In a statement, the trade association National Fisheries Institute (NFI) writes that it is in agreement with the government that seafood workers are being prioritised on the planned allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine in the States.
On December 1 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices announced their recommendations for the prioritized allocation of initial supplies of the Covid-19 vaccine. When the vaccine is authorised by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), healthcare personnel will initially be prioritised.
Workers in essential and critical industries are also being considered, that includes at aquaculture and seafood harvesting, for early vaccination if supply is limited.
NFI President John Connelly said that it applauded the Committee’s recognition that those “harvesting our fish and processing and distributing our seafood are essential and will be considered in the next phase of vaccine distribution”.
“Frontline seafood workers should rightfully be near the front of the line for vaccines,” he added.
