As panicked Americans cleared supermarkets of toilet paper and food last spring, grocery employees gained recognition as among the most indispensable of the pandemic's front-line workers.
A year later, most of those workers are waiting their turn to receive COVID-19 vaccines, with little clarity about when that might happen.
A decentralized vaccine campaign has resulted in a patchwork of policies that differ from state to state, and even county to county in some areas, resulting in an inconsistent rollout to low-paid essential workers who are exposed to hundreds of customers each day.
“Apparently we are not front-line workers when it comes to getting the vaccine. That was kind of a shock,” said
Focusing on older adults is an approach many epidemiologists support as the most ethical and efficient because it will help reduce deaths and hospitalizations faster. People over 65 account for 80% of deaths in the country, according to the
“Our main goals with vaccines should be reducing deaths and hospitalizations,” said
But many grocery workers have been surprised and disheartened to find that they've been left out of such policies, in part because a
Even when grocery workers are prioritized, they still face long waits.
Lara’s father-in-law died of the virus in March. His mother-in-law died in November. Last week, a friend who manages his bodega’s insurance policy also died. And a cousin in
“Nothing to be done. Cross my fingers and hope that God protects me,” Lara said after registering for the waitlist.
Only 13 states are currently allowing grocery workers to sign up for vaccines, according to the
Some states are still working through an initial phase that prioritizes health workers and nursing home residents. Many states have divided the second phase into tiers that put grocery workers lower than others, including people 65 and over, teachers and first responders. Eleven states have no clear plan for prioritizing grocery workers at all, according to research from United 4 Respect, a labor group that advocates for workers at
At MOM’s Organic Market, a 21-store grocery chain in the Mid-Atlantic region, chief culture officer
“Folks feel they deserve to have an opportunity to be vaccinated having been on the front line,” Croft said. "The politicians and the health departments have been singing the praises of grocery workers but now they have been silent.”
Major food retailers say they are doing their part to get their workers vaccinated.
When grocery chain Lidl got word from
“I never ever want to get COVID again, or see anybody else get it,” said Lupo, 59.
But for many grocery workers, the realization that they won’t be eligible any time soon adds to the sense of being expendable. They have fought a mostly losing battle for hazard pay, which a handful of companies offered in the spring but ended despite multiple resurgences of the virus.
A year into the pandemic, some shoppers still refuse to wear masks and managers often don’t force them to follow the rules.
“There are the people who come in wearing a mask halfway down or take it off as soon as they get in the door,” said
“It should be the job of the police,” said Marte, whose organization handed out 150,000 free masks in the spring when they were scarce. “I tell the employees, keep your distance and wear your mask but don’t put yourself in danger because we are the ones who lose.”
Marte said he has been lobbying local officials to set aside vaccine appointments for bodega workers, many of whom are unaware they are eligible. He hopes that the recent opening of a large vaccination site at
The virus, meanwhile, continues its march through grocery stores.
Over the past two months, there have been 137 COVID-19 outbreaks in
“We have to be here, just like a fireman and a policeman, because people need food,” said Whipple, who described the frustration of watching customers routinely walk around barefaced and decline offers of free masks. “We should be getting the vaccine.”
Associated Press Writer
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