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New York, Washington, D.C. and more localities where restaurant workers can get the COVID-19 vaccine

Only a few cities and states so far have committed to a timeline for vaccine distribution to foodservice workers

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

February 8, 2021

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In December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorized foodservice workers as “other essential workers” and were included in their recommendation for groups to get early COVID-19 vaccinations. The CDC did not give a specific timeline estimate for when they might become available for vaccination, but restaurant workers were placed in Group 1C after frontline essential workers and elderly Americans. 

The National Restaurant Association advocated for foodservice workers to be placed in group 1b instead of 1c when the CDC rolled out its vaccine distribution recommendations.

However, the CDC plan is only a recommended set of guidelines and states and cities have largely created their own vaccine rollout plans. Though many localities’ vaccination plans are based on the CDC guidelines, by the beginning of February, most localities had only just entered the second wave of vaccine distribution. 

New York State and Detroit just announced eligibility for restaurant workers in early February, while other localities like Colorado and Chicago have announced a timeline for restaurant workers to begin receiving the vaccination later this spring.

We’ve rounded up a list of the states, cities, and counties that have either begun vaccinating foodservice workers or announced a date for restaurant worker eligibility. This list will be regularly updated as more are added.

Contact Joanna Fantozzi at [email protected]

Follow her on Twitter: @joannafantozzi

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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