More Kern County farm workers being vaccinated

Additional farm workers will be vaccinated this weekend at the farm worker movement’s historic “Forty Acres” property just west of Delano after about 1,100 received their COVID-19 shots last weekend.

The second of three consecutive weekend clinics was held on March 20 and 21 through a partnership between the United Farm Workers, UFW Foundation, Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force, Kern County, Kern Medical and Cesar Chavez Foundation, which owns and manages the grounds at 30168 Garces Hwy. (corner of Mettler Ave.), Delano 93215.

Event partners encourage farm workers to call the bilingual toll free call centers of UFW Foundation at (661) 501-4280 and the Latino COVID task force’s Project Abuelita at (661) 525-5900 for appointments to get their shots. They will be administered at the Forty Acres by staff from the Kern Medical Center that will also handle check-in and administration. It is all being supported by Kern County, the farm worker movement and the Latino COVID task force.

Vaccinations are open to all farm workers 18 years and older at no charge. No health insurance is required. No doctor’s note or order is needed.

Farm workers have turned to the Forty Acres with their problems since the 1960s. The 40-acre site includes the spacious Reuther Hall where vaccination personnel will set up shop. Workers and other poor Latinos have regularly visited the Forty Acres during the pandemic for distribution of large quantities of emergency food and face masks.

Schedule for vaccination clinics providing the first round of shots at the Forty Acres:

• Weekend three—Saturday, March 27, 1 to 7 p.m.; Sunday, March 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Special event—Cesar Chavez birthday, Wednesday, March 31, 4 to 7 p.m. Details on the second round of shots will follow.