Mobile Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines to Migrant Farmworkers in Minnesota

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted migrant farmworkers (MFWs). MFWs have experienced higher rates of infection and death than any other occupational group in the United States due to workplace exposure risks, overcrowded housing, and limited access to personal protective equipment. Barriers to accessing COVID-19 vaccines have also contributed to these disparities, especially in rural areas where the pandemic’s impact has been devastating. Mobile health clinics, in partnership with community-based organizations, are an effective method for vaccine distribution to rural communities where many MFWs live and work. Between June 2021 and October 2022, the University of Minnesota’s Mobile Health Initiative (MHI) organized health fairs in southern Minnesota to distribute vaccines to MFWs and their families. The success of these events can be attributed to partnering with trusted local organizations, bridging geographic barriers, ensuring language-concordant care, and offering multiple health services in one place. MHI’s health fairs serve as a model for future mobile vaccination events. As the COVID-19 pandemic has ended as of this time, future pandemics may occur, and equitable vaccine access must be a priority for MFWs. Mobile health clinics are an essential tool to achieving this goal.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• vaccine
• migrant farmworkers
• mobile health
• equity

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the important work and contributions of Shelly Goddard and Mireya Salazar with the Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs, in addition to the Mobile Health Initiative at the University of Minnesota and the Wabasha County Public Health Department in providing COVID-19 vaccines to MFW communities. Additionally, the authors acknowledge Gael Pelaez and Sarina Mahapatra for their assistance, as well as the University of Minnesota’s Office of Academic Clinical Affairs and the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants and Migrants for their funding.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Christine Thomas receives support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health [T32 AI055433].Jonathan D. Kirsch receives support from the University of Minnesota’s Office of Academic Clinical Affairs and the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants and Migrants.