HIGH RIVER -- A vaccination clinic for thousands of workers at a southern Alberta beef-packing plant has been postponed due to a delay in a shipment of the Moderna vaccine.

Cargill spokesman Daniel Sullivan says the company is disappointed, but remains ready to help vaccinate its employees.

Alberta Health says it was counting on the Moderna shipment for the clinic, which will open as soon as possible.

Nearly half the 2,200 workers at Cargill's facility at High River, south of Calgary, contracted the novel coronavirus and two employees died.

Immunizations were to be provided by occupational health nurses with Cargill and by doctors with local primary health networks.

The Cargill statement says the company believes vaccines play a critical role in slowing and stopping the devastating effects of COVID-19.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2021.