In a letter addressed to President Donald J. Trump, the American Bakers Association (ABA), along with more than a dozen food, agriculture, retail, and consumer packaged goods industry groups, requested food and agriculture workers receive the next highest priority for a COVID-19 vaccine, once available, behind healthcare workers, first responders, and high-risk individuals.
“The COVID-19 vaccine would help the baking industry protect its frontline employees and keep the supply chain operating,” said Robb MacKie, ABA President & CEO. “This request is in addition to the food and agriculture industry’s successful efforts for priority access to sanitizer, PPE, and testing.”
“At a time when Americans are struggling with stay-at-home orders, layoffs and furloughs, and keeping their families safe, they have been spared the added anxiety of lack of food,” added MacKie.
In addition to the priority request, the industry groups strongly urged the federal government to coordinate vaccine distribution, rather than the states, to ensure a more consistent and efficient process.
ABA, as co-chair of the critical infrastructure food and beverage industry coalition, has partnered with CDC, FDA, USDA, and other federal and state agencies to protect employees during the coronavirus pandemic.
