It’s Friday again! Here on Five on Friday, Migrant Clinicians Network opens up our inboxes and shares five recommended articles, research papers, podcasts, etc., that we think you may have missed. From the fields to the clinic, this week’s Five on Friday looks at how work, policy, and the environment shape health, ending with a remarkable Weekly Win to cap it off.
Elizabeth reminded us, as flu surges early across the US: Get your flu and COVID shots! Becky followed up Elizabeth’s reminder with this post from Your Local Epidemiologist, which said, “ Now is the time to get your flu vaccine. Usually, advice is in October (the common saying is “flu before boo”), but for maximum protection, I think that advice will be late this year. Schedule your flu vaccine appointment this week. I am.” That was last week! To read more on what clinicians are hearing from families who still want vaccination, read MCN’s latest Substack in English or Spanish.
Link: Flu Is Here Early. Plus Covid, Mosquitoes, and More.
Amy sent around this Common Dreams op-ed from Devan Hawkins and Paul Landsbergis. In response, Eva said, “ Excellent article that reinforces what I observe daily in my clinical practice.
I would emphasize the I would love to get to a point where there is employee sponsored culturally tailored support services and access to mental health services, alongside stronger regulation.”
Link: Mental Health Is Worker Health
Esther participated in a virtual policy roundtable hosted by Farmworker Justice, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, and Rural Coalition on the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026. Advocates, workers, and farmers discussed shortcomings in the legislation and potential solutions that would support workers and farmers while creating a more stable agricultural workforce and food system. Watch the roundtable recording or read Farmworker Justice’s two-page summary.
Link: Policy Summary: Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026
Claire shared this difficult but important investigation by Tina Vasquez from The Guardian. The story shows what a workplace heat injury can mean long after the immediate emergency has passed. Content warning: The story includes severe injury and death. (Be sure to read the Weekly Win below, because high-quality, enforced heat policy can prevent more people from suffering while not harming business.)
Weekly Win: Heat protections save lives without costing jobs. Amy shared a new working paper examining California’s construction and agricultural industries, which found no evidence that the state’s heat standard harmed employment, wages, the number of establishments, or farm production. That follows earlier research from the same authors finding a reduction in heat-related deaths among outdoor workers after the Cal/OSHA standard took effect. Strong worker protections can save lives, without requiring workers to choose between their health and their livelihoods—spread the word!
Link: California’s Heat Standard Did Not Harm Construction and Agriculture
