More Philadelphia (PA) Medics Urged to Consider COVID-19 Vaccination

Aubrey Whelan The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT) COVID-19 vaccinations began last week in Philadelphia’s Fire Department, with the city’s 500 emergency medical technicians first in line. Among the city’s first responders, EMTs have been in closest contact with COVID patients since the beginning of the pandemic, and the department as a whole has been hard hit by the virus. But of the approximately 200 medics first offered the vaccine, only about 40% to 50% got the shot, said Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel at a news conference Wednesday. Medics had cited “everything under the sun” when declining the vaccine, he said, and he didn’t want to “minimize anyone’s concerns.” But, Thiel said, part of the initial reluctance to accept the vaccine has to do with how new it is. “It’s effective and safe. Once everyone sees it working, I hope these concerns will be assuaged,” he said. Even though the vaccines — from Pfizer and Moderna — have been produced at record speed, they have been tested on thousands of people in clinical trials, and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for most people over age 16. The department’s ultimate goal is to have all of its 3,000 members vaccinated, though it’s unclear how quickly that might happen — doses of the vaccine are scarce and the department is unsure how many it will receive week to week. Everyone who has received a first dose of the vaccine will r...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Coronavirus News News Feed EMS EMT Fire Department EMS Paramedic Pennsylvania Source Type: news