Hamilton farmers say they need COVID vaccines to keep food on tables

Hamilton farmers have become the latest group to take issue with public health's COVID vaccine rollout.

To date there has been no communication ... leaving farmers and agri-food employers wondering what they can do to protect workers while they continue to provide food for our tables," stated a letter to Mayor Fred Eisenberger and medical officer of health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson dated May 13 from the Hamilton-Wentworth Federation of Agriculture.

The federation, which represents more than 545 farm families, is asking for a plan that includes dedicated vaccination clinics for its workers - as well as the food-processing sector - with the goal of keeping our food supply chain strong."

Richardson said public health has gone through various routes to try and get the messages out about prioritization."

Farmers are the fourth major group to raise concern about communication failures and inaction in the local rollout.

Head Injury Rehabilitation Ontario contacted another public health department to vaccinate its Hamilton residents after CEO Mila Ray-Daniels described supportive housing as being left behind despite multiple outbreaks.

The rollout for Indigenous adults was called muddled" and a break of trust by members of the community.

Significant concerns have been repeatedly raised by Black and racialized residents.

The issues are ongoing said Ameil Joseph, associate professor in the School of Social Work at McMaster University and a member of the Hamilton Vaccine Readiness Network.

He tweeted his frustration Monday regarding a public health presentation about how it has partnered with vulnerable communities and started a program last week that will see 10 ambassadors from Black, racialized and Indigenous communities working to increase uptake.

The presentation to board of health said it was engaging with priority populations through meetings and outreach."

The aim was to develop tailored messages and resources for communities with high vaccine hesitancy rates, question-and-answer sessions for priority populations, mail-outs in hot spots and translated resources.

Public health said it works to determine specific barriers to vaccination," facilitate access to clinics within neighbourhoods, answer questions and help with transportation.

The Hamilton board of health should ask the leaders of agencies and organizations serving marginalized populations how the relationships with Hamilton public health are going," Joseph tweeted Monday. What you will find is that the community feedback will not coincide with their current reports to council."

While all of these groups have been eligible to book an appointment for some time, it doesn't mean they've been able to get vaccinated, stresses Joseph.

Being eligible to book an appointment is very different from having equitable access to an appointment," he tweeted.

He alleges he can't get answers regarding plans and timelines.

How many appointments per day they can and are doing," he tweeted. When we ask for math we get a run around."

Farmers also say they are not being prioritized and the federation said it's able to help but not being used.

How are we communicating to the farms in our city what is available to them," Coun. Arlene VanderBeek said to Richardson on Monday. I am asking you if you could please reach out ... and seek the ways you can help to get messages out to the farming community.

They are a very large sector of our economic viability here and we all like to eat."

Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com