Fuimos olvidados y descuidados [Forgotten and Neglected]: Lessons Learned and Findings From On-Farm COVID-19 Education and Vaccine Clinics for Agricultural Workers and Their Multigenerational Families in Texas.

Abstract

Background: Despite being deemed essential non-healthcare workers, agricultural workers were excluded from COVID-19 vaccine prioritization in Texas. This professional practice report describes the multifaceted worker health and safety approaches to protecting agricultural workers and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Between March 2020 and January 2025, several outreach, education, and training grants from various funding agencies were leveraged to deliver training, personal protective equipment, vaccines, and economic relief to agricultural workers in partnership with community-based organizations, industry, local public health departments, and academic institutions.

Findings: Timely funding efforts led to the distribution of 1,000 PPE kits, with more than 3,000 in-person and virtual trainings, 80 on-farm clinics hosted with over 2,200 vaccinations, 4,500 door-to-door education visits in 31 rural counties and 61 zip codes, exceeding 4,600 relief payments distributed, and 30,000 rural county resource lists disseminated across rural agricultural communities in Texas. These collaborative efforts gave rise to Sembrando el Sueño-a program that provided social services to agricultural workers in the Texas Panhandle.

Conclusion/application to practice: Over $4.5 million in grant monies were leveraged to help advocate for agricultural worker health, safety, and well-being as well as their multigenerational households in rural Texas. This report underscores the challenges and the collaborative multifaceted approach needed among various partners to ensure that essential workers are adequately protected from exposure to infectious agents while on the job.