Sumter vaccine clinic set for Tuesday, July 27, to give away free meat for a year

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The Pilgrim's plant in Sumter is set to hold a giveaway of free meat for a year to one lucky winner who gets vaccinated at a clinic on Tuesday.

In partnership with Prisma Health, the clinic will be held on July 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St., in conjunction with the High Five 2 Change Back-to-School Jamboree.

As part of Pilgrim's goal to vaccinate Americans in the rural communities where the company operates, it is awarding one winner who receives his or her first vaccine at the clinic with free beef, pork and chicken to feed a family of four for a year.

While Sumter County is the state's 15th-largest county in terms of population and those aged 12 and older and who are therefore eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, it has the fourth-lowest rate of fully vaccinated residents in the state.

"We're putting the COVID-19 vaccine on everyone's back-to-school list this year," said Keith Martin, Pilgrim's Sumter complex manager. "Vaccination is the best way to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and through this sweepstakes, we hope to encourage members of the Sumter community to do their part."

Pilgrim's has promoted vaccination among its workforce of more than 31,000 U.S. employees. The company's vaccination program includes onsite clinics, paid time off, a $100 incentive bonus and a multi-lingual education campaign.

The Sumter complex is the county's second-largest industrial employer, according to Sumter Economic Development.