Vaccines administered to Salinas farmworkers aged 65 and older

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) Grower-Shipper Association of Central California (GSA) and Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas (CSVS) vaccinated farmworkers at the D'Arigo California Headquarters parking lot.

Alfonso Solis has worked at Taylor Farm for 11 years. He received a phone call from his employer asking him if he would like an appointment for a vaccine, he said.

"I said of course, they called me again and I said of course. The opportunity was given here by Taylor Farms. And I said let’s get it done. I was anxious to get an appointment so I said let's do it. "

Solis hopes his 61 year old wife who is also a farmworker can be next.  More 34,000 employees in the agricultural industry tested positive for the virus. The most of any business sector in Monterey County. The federal doses administered with the help of Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas shows a significant step in the fight against the virus.

Ramón Cervantes is another farmworker who said he’s glad to be getting his first dose of the vaccine.

"I thought that I would never get this opportunity but thank god I did,’ said Cervantes. “Well, knowing that I am working. And since we are essential workers, I want to be safe at home, at work, wherever we go."

According to Cervantes, it was important for him to get vaccinated because he wanted to make sure he did everything that was available to prevent the virus. Cervantes feared what would happen if he chose to not take the vaccine offered.

“For me it's about feeling secured. Now I'm just missing another vaccine for this process. and i think we're going to be able to move forward.”

Farmworkers over the age of 65 are currently eligible to be vaccinated through this program. GSA and CSVS expect to expand to provide vaccinations to more farmworkers