Meat, dairy and other food factory workers are 10th on the list to receive the COVID-19 vaccine under the Government’s vaccination plan. These workers are known as “key workers in essential jobs who cannot avoid a high risk of exposure to COVID-19” in the plan.

“They include workers in the food supply system, public and commercial transport and other vital services,” according to the plan.

These workers are in phase 10 of the rollout as they have a “high risk of exposure” as they are “unable to work without physical distancing”.

Meat Industry Ireland (MII) director Cormac Healy said in December that it would be “logical” for essential workers, such as those in meat factories, to receive the vaccine after at-risk groups and health workers had received it.