Tyson Foods announced earlier today that all employees will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 1. And that all new employees must be vaccinated by their start date.

In a memo to employees President and CEO of Tyson Foods, Donnie King, explained why the company is taking this step:

As people have heard, new variants of COVID-19 are more contagious, more deadly and responsible for most cases in America today. In some communities, doctors and hospitals are once again overwhelmed, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting nearly all hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. are among those who are unvaccinated. It is abundantly clear that getting vaccinated is the single most effective thing we can do to protect ourselves, our families and our communities.

Tyson Foods says once fully vaccinated employees are verified in their Vaccination Verification Program they will receive $200 as a thank you for being vaccinated. This is in addition to the four hours of regular pay employees receive if they are vaccinated through an external source, our outside of their regular shift.

Tyson's Derek Burleson says about 40% of the company's 1500 employees at the Sedalia plant have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Nationwide, 56,000 of Tyson's team members have been vaccinated against the coronavirus which is just under half their U.S. employees.

Locally the Tyson plant has held vaccination events for employees and Burleson says the company is working with Matrix Medical, other providers, and local health departments to schedule more vaccination events at the company's plants. Additionally, the company is helping team members schedule vaccination appointments with providers outside of their plants.

Burleson told Townsquare Media Sedalia/Warrensburg that onsite vaccination schedules are being planned and will be shared with local leaders in the coming weeks.

According to their news release, Tyson Foods becomes the largest U.S. food company to require COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees.

 

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