The Airdrie Fire Department (AFD) is adding its voice to the chorus of firefighters around the province calling on the Alberta government to include fire services in Phase 1A of the province's eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Premier Jason Kenney announced Jan. 11 that additional populations would be available to receive the vaccine, including respiratory therapists, ICU workers, long term care staff, home care workers, paramedics and emergency medical technicians.
However, the list omitted firefighters – something the Alberta Firefighters Association and fire departments around the province were quick to point out.
“I think the announcement was great, I just think it needs to go further,” said AFD Chief Kevin Weinberger. “We put ourselves at great risk every time we go to a call.”
Weinberger said he assumed first responders would be involved in the vaccine process early on.
“I think what people don’t understand is that all of our people are paramedics as well,” he said. “We do respond to medical calls, we do go into vulnerable sector areas, we go to calls in seniors’ facilities. Not only do we want to protect them, but we also want to protect ourselves.”
He said having access to the COVID-19 vaccine would ensure firefighters are able to continue doing their job without the risk of contracting the virus or needing to self-isolate for days at a time.
“We are here to service calls and protect the citizens,” he said. “The only way we can do that, and still send our people home every night to continue to come back to work the next day, is by having these vaccines.”
Another reason Weinberger said he supports including firefighters in phase 1A of the vaccine distribution plan is because firefighters usually work in groups – oftentimes in close proximity of each other.
“If we have a situation where one person has a close contact, well, typically in our stations we can have five to seven firefighters in there that would all have to be away and self-isolate,” Weinberger said. “It just puts a strain on the department.”
According to Weinberger, there have been some challenges for AFD during the pandemic. He said the department has had to bring in term employees to help get through periods when members had to self-isolate.
An example, he added, came just a few weeks ago, when AFD had to send nine employees home to self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19.
“That is a big impact,” he said.
Alongside AFD, the Airdrie Professional Firefighters Association (AFPA) also supports the inclusion of firefighters in phase 1A of the vaccine distribution plan. In a press release Jan. 13, the association’s president said the sooner the vaccine is in place for Airdrie's firefighters, the sooner the aspect of risk is mitigated and they will be able to keep their community safe.
“Airdrie firefighters are an important component of the critical infrastructure for emergency services and the citizens of Airdrie,” said AFPA president Matt Elgie, in a statement. “They are exposed to very real risks, in dynamic situations. When a group of firefighters is unable to come to work due to a quarantine or isolation order after being exposed to COVID-19, it challenges the fire department’s ability to maintain safe staffing levels.”
On Jan. 18, Premier Jason Kenney announced the Province would have to temporarily halt first-dose vaccinations, due to a supply issue resulting from Pfizer-BioNTech's manufacturing plant. As of that date, roughly 90,000 Albertans had received their first dose of vaccine.
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @Jay_Strickz
