Page 3 - National Poultry Newspaper

COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the chicken meat industry
Poultry awards
* from P1
for higher-degree re- search students, was won by Annaleise Wil- son from CSIRO.
uate hackathon aptly named ‘Chook Chat Hack’.
The second award for innovation for the poultry industries, with a $2,000 prize and tar- geted at early career re- searchers, was won by Dr Lida Omaleki from QAAFI.
You could win $3,000 or a cool chicken coop! This event will run from March 24-28 and will focus on novel ideas as to how we can create the next genera-
Unfortunately, I could only attend on-screen to announce the win- ners, but as you can see in the photo, I was still part of the fun!
ask teams of under- graduate students to tackle the looming food shortage of 2050 and how chickens and eggs could be the an- swer.
However, I did miss out on the catering.
Is the answer in sci- ence, agritech, eco- nomics, psychology, engineering, marketing or none of the above?
Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who entered.
This event is centred around engagement and the sharing of ideas.
Our 2021 call for research is now open and will enable further research investment in our fantastic industry.
University students will be invited to form teams and submit a short video that details their ideas.
Did you know that PHA managed over $3 million in research dol- lars last year?
Videos will be judged by a panel of industry experts and the win- ners will receive a cash prize.
If you are keen to learn more about our research portfolio, check out our website or contact us directly.
If you would like to get involved register now on our website, the first 100 registrants get a free trucker hat.
Finally, I would like to bring to your atten- tion our next exciting event – our undergrad-
tion chicken. Specifically, we will
THE Australian Chick- en Meat Federation has been engaging with gov- ernments to understand how the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program will affect the chicken meat industry.
able at Phase 2b.
proved provider to deliver vaccinations at an appro- priate on-site facility at the business premises.
Here is a quick summary of the current situation. When will people work- ing in the chicken meat industry likely be given the opportunity to get vaccinated?
It is estimated that the rollout of vaccination in the meat-processing sec- tor will start between 6-7 weeks into the program – in late March, early April – and that the AstraZeneca vaccine will be provided in most cases.
However, this decision will be made at a national level ultimately and the practicalities of this option will need to be considered. Will vaccination of em- ployees be mandatory?
The Australian Govern- ment has agreed a five- phase COVID-19 vaccine national roll-out strategy.
For those involved in other parts of the chicken supply chain, Phase 2 of the vaccination program rollout is expected to com- mence from the beginning of May 2021.
In terms of the question as to whether an employer can require their employ- ees to be vaccinated, while companies may strongly advocate vaccination, the decision will probably re- main a personal choice for employees, even for pro- cessing-plant staff.
The program will com- mence at Phase 1a with priority populations, in- cluding aged care and dis- ability care residents and workers, frontline health- care workers, and quaran- tine and border workers.
processing facilities.
In Victoria, the current
istrative and cleaning staff, would qualify at Phase 1b. What about others in- volved in the chicken meat supply chain but not at processing plants?
How will I know when vaccination is open to my processing plant?
The meat processing sec- tor, along with other criti- cal and high-risk sectors including defence, police, fire and emergency ser- vices, has been prioritised at Phase 1b of the vaccina- tion program.
intention is that businesses subject to the workforce restrictions during Victo- ria’s second wave of COV- ID-19 would be captured at Phase 1b, with the caveat that the government may make a determination in terms of scope that could override this.
It is unclear at what point farm personnel and other people involved in chick- en meat production will qualify for vaccination, and this will depend on whether food production activities are considered ‘critical’ for the purposes of vaccination prioritisa- tion.
States contacted to date have indicated they will work with peak industry bodies and large employ- ers in the sector to ensure workplaces are aware as to when vaccination is open to them and will also provide advice on who is eligible.
The ACMF will continue to update its members as new information is re- leased.
What is the likely timing and which vaccine?
Vaccination of Phase 1b groups should be complet- ed by the end of April.
The government will not be mandating vaccination in any sector.
For more information, visit chicken.org.au
A number of more vul- nerable groups in the com- munity also qualify for vaccination at Phase 1b.
Which employees asso- ciated with a processing plant would qualify for vaccination at Phase 1b has not been defined as yet.
Can vaccination of pro- cessing staff be done on-site?
The ACMF is seeking clarification as to what facilities are captured by the term ‘meat processing’, but it is probable that it will include all large poul- try processing and further
However, based on the approach taken at Phase 1a, it is believed that every- one who works at a quali- fying poultry processing facility, including admin-
Though the earliest for those engaged in the chicken supply chain out- side of processing to be eligible for vaccination would expectedly be at Phase 2a, but more prob-
This has not been deter- mined as yet.
However, discussions with several state health departments indicated that this could be considered, and businesses may be permitted to engage an ap-
Photo: Hakan Nural
Fendona® Plus 60SC
Insecticide
Speci cally developed for use within poultry sheds, for the control of litter beetles and a range of ying and crawling insects
High performance residual insecticide offering rapid knockdown
Low dose formulation provides the exibility of a clean-out and maintenance application rate
For more information on Fendona Plus 60 SC,
visit crop-solutions.basf.com.au or contact your local CCD Representative on 1300 791 009
Distributed by
@basfpestcontrolau
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS.
© Copyright BASF 2019 ® Registered trademark of BASF. W239831 12.2019
www.poultrynews.com.au
National Poultry Newspaper, March 2021 – Page 3