LOS ANGELES – Yaneth Gutierrez, 34, an agricultural worker who harvests products in California’s Central Valley, had to take two days off when she fell ill. Two weeks after testing positive for Covid-19, the mother of two lost her job picking carrots because she did not show up for work.
“I don’t have the luxury of being sick,” said Gutierrez. “I was not vaccinated. I have to be extra careful not to get sick again. I heard bad rumors about the vaccine and I’m afraid, but the risk of bringing the virus home is greater ”.
California recently announced a change in vaccine eligibility, from a job-based system to an age-based system that prioritizes Californians over 65. However, the state plans to continue vaccinating school officials, emergency services and health professionals, as well as food and agriculture workers during the transition to the new age-based system, Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said last week.
In an interview with NBC News, California surgeon general Nadine Burke Harris said that equity comes first and that those who were once considered eligible would have access to the vaccine, including farm workers.
But trying to get vaccines for skilled essential workers is proving difficult, according to some groups. United Farm Workers, the major labor organization, said it was unable to schedule vaccines for its workers through the state’s online portal.
Team members said they were unable to get past the front page of the portal. The pop-up message they receive says, “Based on your results, you are not qualified for the current phase of implementation, but you will be qualified for a future phase.”
“I feel discriminated against,” said Gutierrez. “I think they should give priority to those of us in the field. I think we all deserve the vaccine ”.
Teresa Romero, president of United Farm Workers, said that many vulnerable workers are not being vaccinated.
“In the past two weeks, three rural workers under the age of 65 have died from Covid-19. The age limit of the vaccine is affecting most people of color who are part of the workforce, ”said Romero. “Conservatively, I can say that 90 percent of California’s rural workers are Latinos.”
Latino officials and labor advocates are echoing these concerns about the change in levels, saying that these changes are putting essential Latin workers and their families at risk when counties across California are lifting restrictions.
Ron Herrera, president of the Los Angeles County Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, criticized Newsom’s decision, calling it “devastating”.
“The governor’s decision to move from labor to age I think will prolong the infection rate because workers are not protected,” said Herrera. “On the first day, this federation preached that if we wanted to control the virus in Los Angeles, we had to control the workplace. If the workplace is not controlled, workers are taking the virus to their homes and communities. In the case of Latinos, they tend to be multigenerational houses. “
According to the US Census, Latinos make up 39% of California’s population, but represent 55% of all confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 46.5% of all deaths, according to state data.
The average age of a Latino in California is 28; only 7% of Latinos in the state are over 64 years old. The age required to schedule a vaccination appointment for non-healthcare professionals is 65 years old.
In the state, Latinos represent half of the frontline workers. But some frontline workers in service, production, transportation and material handling are not currently eligible for the vaccine.
“Latino families are overwhelmed by this pandemic, and the current safety net does not include all Californians,” said Senator María Elena Durazo, president of the Latino Legislative Caucus, in a statement related to health disparities and inequities in the workplace. faced by Latinos in the midst of the pandemic.
This week, Newsom announced the opening of two vaccination centers, one at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland and another on the California State University campus in East Los Angeles, two areas that have been heavily affected by the coronavirus.
María Patiño, 30, of Los Angeles, said that almost all of her family members were infected with Covid-19, including her parents. Her family consists of essential workers who reside in a multigenerational home. Last month, his mother, Rosa María Patiño, died of coronavirus. She was 63 years old and worked in a food factory.
“She arrived early at work to be cleaned, but there are three different shifts with many workers working closely to inspect the food,” said Patiño. “She wanted to be vaccinated. She planned to retire in March.”
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