AHS to provide vaccines to Cargill meat plant workers

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – It was the site of the largest outbreak of COVID-19 in Canada and now Alberta Health Services (AHS) is out with a plan to immunize the Cargill meat processing facility near High River.

In a release, AHS said the vaccines will be offered on site by Occupational Health Nurses (OHN) employed by Cargill.

A date for the start of the vaccines hasn’t been finalized as it depends on the timing of Phase 2C of the vaccine rollout plan and how many doses are available.

AHS is working on establishing on-site COVID-19 immunization clinics at the Cargill meat processing facility in High River. The dates and times for the clinics will be determined by timing of 2C rollout and vaccine availability. The plant had the largest outbreak in Canada. pic.twitter.com/XO3bUzOxZ8

— Jeff Slack (@Jeffslack660) April 8, 2021

AHS said it hopes to expand this program to other meat processing plants in the coming weeks.

The Cargill facility closed for two weeks last April following an outbreak that resulted in over 950 employees testing positive for the virus. Three deaths were connected to the outbreak including two employees and the 71-year-old father of a worker.

RCMP has been asked to investigate one of those deaths.

WATCH: Labour groups say meat plants are failing outbreak lessons from Cargill

Meanwhile, the Olymel plant in Red Deer accounted for over 500 cases earlier this year. Both facilities have since reopened after they were closed briefly as a result of the positive cases.

 

-With files from the Canadian Press