Last week 15 organizations within the food and beverage, agriculture, retail and consumer packaged goods industries penned a letter to President Trump requesting priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine once it is distributed.
“Our members have been on the front lines of the response to the pandemic by continuing operations and ensuring Americans have access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food. Challenges have taxed the food supply chain over the past eight months, but the food, agriculture, manufacturing, and retail industries are resilient, and the supply chains have not broken,” the letter, which is posted on the United Fresh Produce Association’s website, states. “Once a vaccine for COVID-19 is developed, it is imperative that we have a federally orchestrated vaccine distribution program and prioritization of vaccination among population groups.”
The letter was submitted by the following organizations and associations:
- American Bakers Association
- American Frozen Food Institute
- Consumer Brands Association
- FMI – The Food Industry Association
- Global Cold Chain Alliance
- International Dairy Foods Association
- National Automatic Merchandising Association
- National Confectioners Association
- National Grocers Association
- National Restaurant Association
- North American Millers Association
- North American Meat Institute
- Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association
- SNAC International
- United Fresh
The letter also urges President Trump to activate the roadmap laid out in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook for Jurisdiction Operations as soon as possible to facilitate “widespread and sustained acceptance of vaccinations.”
