There are concerns in other states where farmworkers remain ineligible, including Georgia, Texas, and New York, said Sylvia Partida,sylEfforts to vaccinate farmworkers hindered by eligibility

As the Biden administration expands vaccine supply across the country, a federal program aimed at vaccinating agricultural workers has hit a roadblock in states where they aren't eligible, elevating concerns that vulnerable workers are being put on the backburner.

Federally funded health centers, which serve more than 1 million agricultural workers nationwide, have played a key role in inoculating farmers. These centers also serve a significantly larger percentage of people of color compared to other facilities — a trend that's reflected in vaccine administration, according to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation.  In February, the federal Health Resources and Services Administration launched a program aimed at getting 1 million vaccine doses to 250 qualifying health centers. But eligibility constraints in a number of states have stunted the impact of the program and created an ever-shrinking window to vaccinate contract laborers before they travel elsewhere for work, where access may be more difficult. This is the case in the immigrant-driven farming town of Immokalee, Florida.