Texas Border Business
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr has joined efforts with the U.S. Department of Labor, Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., LUPE, and numerous organizations and nonprofits to help get 1,000 local farmworkers vaccinated against COVID-19. Farmworkers receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at this event have been pre-selected by the U.S. Department of Labor with the assistance of local organizations and nonprofits. This is the largest COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic specifically for Farmworkers in the Rio Grande Valley.
The First Dose COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic for Farmworkers will take place on Sunday, April 11, 2021, at the Pharr Events Center (3000 N Cage Blvd, Pharr, TX 78577). Media availability with Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez and City Commissioner Dr. Ramiro Caballero administering doses and special guest Senator Eddie Lucio is scheduled for 10 am. Officials will be available for interviews at that time.
The coalition of local organizations and nonprofits assisting in this event, as well as several others planned for the future, include:
- Texas Rural Legal Aide (TRLA)
- Motivational Educational Training (MET)
- Migrant Education and Family Support
- Texas State Monitor Advocate
- US Dept of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
- UT School of Public Health
- El Centro de Trabajadores Agricolas Fronterizos
- MHP Salud
- La Union del Pueblo (LUPE)
- Texas DSHS
- National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH)
- Migrants Clinician Network
The goal of the coalition is to vaccinate approximately 6,000 – 8,000 local farmworkers who play a critical role in our nation’s food supply chain. Members of the coalition have been very active in identifying eligible employees for the appropriate vaccines.
“The City of Pharr is proud to be a regional leader and driving force to fight COVID-19 and protect frontline essential workers that are critical to the supply chain,” said Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez. “As the #1 Produce Crosser in the U.S., we understand how critical it is to get these workers vaccinated to keep commerce and the economy moving,” continued. Hernandez. “Farmworkers are vital to our economy and the most overlooked when it comes to the role they play in keeping us fed and our food supply moving,” he added.
The City of Pharr is an approved hub and therefore, vaccines were obtained by the state and disbursed directly to the city. Efforts to administer the vaccine were further enhanced through the assistance of Cori Carrizales with the U.S. Department of Labor and with the help of Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. who ensured that the vaccines were earmarked for farmworkers in the Rio Grande Valley.
The first doses for farmworkers, of these vaccines, were administered at Vanguard Academy by Saenz Pharmacy on April 2, 2021, to approximately 750 farmworkers. More vaccines are scheduled to be administered the rest of the week and early next week.
Farmers and growers in the RGV have been very receptive to having their workers vaccinated and have agreed to schedule the vaccines at their business locations. The City of Pharr has already begun going out to produce sheds across Hidalgo county and vaccinating on-site at those locations. Sunday’s vaccination clinic will be the last round of the 1,000 vaccinations distributed by the state for farmworkers.
All media are invited to attend this event. Please be advised that the event is not open to the public as all attendees have been pre-selected.
For more information on this event, please contact Michelle Lopez, City of Pharr Chief Communications Officer at (956) 310-2139 or via email at michelle.lopez@pharr-tx.gov.
