Fazio: Vaccine Mandate Not Creating Problems

The vaccine mandate for H-2A foreign guest workers went into effect January 22^nd but will it make getting workers more difficult this year? Dan Fazio, director of the Washington Farm Labor Association, says the system they put into place last year should keep everything running smoothly.

“We pioneered that vaccination upon arrival approach and, in fact, we’re doing the same thing this year except being vaccinated, we’re doing booster on arrival; not a requirement to be boosted, but a great idea.”

And when it comes to first-time workers.

“The Mexican government provides a website where workers can identify the nearest clinic," Fazio noted. "It’s a matter of clicking on that, clicking on that website for workers in Mexico looking to get vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine.”

Bottom line, Fazio said there should be very few problems as producers look for their labor needs in the growing season ahead.

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