As a farm manager, you have the potential to influence employee attitudes about the vaccine. To help you lead these conversations and take steps towards this important prevention measure, we've got several resources available.

• Read Tips on the Do's and Don'ts for talking about COVID-19 vaccination with your employees.
• Share information from the Cornell Farmworker Program, both in English and Spanish.
• Watch and share this video on "The Science Behind COVID-19 Vaccines: A Conversation with Cornell's immunology experts".
• Use this toolkit from HHS for Essential Workers in Agriculture as part of their "We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign".

Getting a vaccine and following CDC advice will be the best protection from COVID-19 for you, your family, your community, and your farm employees. While this is a highly personal decision that you should discuss with your medical advisor, the more people on your farm that are fully vaccinated, the lower your risk of experiencing a COVID outbreak. Most of our farms are family run, and we're in close proximity while at work and at home. A COVID outbreak can be widespread on a farmstead very quickly, leaving you and your workforce vulnerable to time on the couch away from the cows, hospital stays that are going to delay planting times, and even death which can have catastrophic consequences to your life's work. As farmers, we know the important role that vaccines play in protecting animal health and wellbeing. It's no different here!

If you need help scheduling appointments for vaccinations (for your farm employees and/or your family), contact your local health department.

• Allegany County, Cattaraugus County, Chautauqua County, Erie County, Steuben County
• For example, folks in Steuben County have access to Finger Lakes Community Health and Oak Orchard Health who are willing to go to farms and vaccinate workers (with bilingual nurses!).

National Milk Producers Federation provides some key messages here:

Employees need to know the benefits and safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The information below will help you share clear, accurate information to educate employees about COVID-19 vaccines and raise awareness about the benefits of vaccination.

Key Messages:

• COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Available COVID-19 vaccines have met the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's rigorous scientific standards and are safe and effective.

• Get vaccinated at your earliest opportunity. Although the vaccine supply remains limited, public health officials are working toward making vaccines widely available for everyone in the U.S. at no cost. Visit your state's COVID-19 landing page to determine eligibility status.
• It is okay to have questions. Share trusted information with employees so they can make informed decisions about vaccines. If you have questions, talk to a doctor or healthcare provider.

Options for Farmers:

• Lead by example. Make sure you get vaccinated when it is your turn, and let your employees know you did.
• Adapt key messages about COVID-19 vaccines to the language, tone, and format that will resonate with your employees.
• Post workplace flyers, factsheets and infographics to reinforce the safety and benefits of COVID-19 vaccines.
• Invite vaccinated employees to share their experience with other employees.
• Invite a local physician or other public health expert to speak with your employees and workers about vaccines.

And, at the very least, you could get some free beer.

Stay Safe