By Troy Gillard and Josh Hall

outbreak claimed three lives

Workers at Olymel, other meat packing plants receive COVID vaccine

May 16, 2021 | 11:48 AM

Olymel says over half of the approximately 1,800 employees at its Red Deer pork plant received a COVID-19 vaccine over the course of three days last week.

Spokesperson Richard Vigneault said this week 640 employees received a Moderna vaccine at an on-site clinic held May 4-6 while another 250 employees were vaccinated elsewhere.

Vigneault says they’ll have a better idea in the next couple of weeks as to how many employees overall have been vaccinated, noting that they are not mandatory.

“It’s a personal choice to be vaccinated, nobody can force anyone, but Olymel strongly encourages and invites employees to get the vaccination and the company is offering an additional incentive of $50 to all employees that get the vaccine,” he explained.

“As long as everyone at the plant will not be fully vaccinated, the sanitary measures will be in force and that will be the case until the health authorities’ recommendation to do otherwise.”

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Active COVID-19 cases reached a peak number of 212 on February 19 during an outbreak that’s seen 552 cases linked to the plant as of May 15. Three people have died, and seven cases remain active.

A temporary shutdown of the plant was announced February 15 by Olymel and a gradual reopening began March 4.

As part of the province’s COVID-19 immunization phase 2C rollout, starting April 27, workers employed at federally inspected meat packing plants in Alberta have had the option to get immunized by booking at local AHS immunization sites, attending onsite COVID-19 immunization clinics in partnership with primary care network or public health clinics, and/or booking appointments a local pharmacies.

In the Central Zone, there are five federally inspected meat packing plants – Olymel, Canadian Premium Meats in Lacombe, Canada Land Processors Ltd. (formerly Sungold Specialty Meats) in Innisfail, Lacombe Meat Research Centre and Sunterra Meats in Trochu.

Onsite immunizations at Olymel began May 4 and continued through to May 6. An off-site immunization clinic was arranged for Sunterra Meats employees on May 6. Canadian Premium Meats and Canada Land Processors onsite immunizations occurred on May 7. Lacombe Meat Research Centre employees accessed immunizations through AHS immunization clinics or local pharmacies.

As of May 15, an outbreak at Canadian Premium Meats included 32 cases, three of which were active, down from 26 active on May 8.

“Provincial meat packing include a number of abattoirs, facilities located on Hutterite colonies, and family-owned businesses. They tend to be located near urban centres and are smaller, employing between five and 30 persons,” an AHS spokesperson told rdnewsNOW.

“That group of employers would have been forwarded an information package from Alberta Health which explained eligibility to be immunized, provided them with a list of AHS Clinics and pharmacies in their area, and a template letter that employees can submit to the pharmacist or clinic of their choice to establish their eligibility to be immunized.”