Firefighters now fighting for vaccine

By Medicine Hat News on March 20, 2021.

City officials say quickly evolving vaccination groupings led them to incorrectly believe some city firefighters would be scheduled soon for priority shots.

At the same time, the Alberta Firefighters Association says the province should move all its professional members up in priority as well as “thousands more” volunteer firefighters in rural areas.

Included in Phase 2C of the vaccine rollout, expected to begin in April, are workers who provide direct medical care, but for firefighters that only includes those who hold paramedic certification, said Chris Storeshaw of the AFA.

“It includes some our members, but the majority aren’t getting access,” he told the News. “They are first responders who make COVID calls, medical calls, and they need to be protected.

“In smaller centres (volunteer departments) are first on the scene. They are responding to calls but not getting support.”

The difference was only discovered by City of Medicine Hat officials late this week, after new groups for vaccine rollout phases for April to June were outlined on Monday.

On that day, city director of emergency management, Merrick Brown, told council that local police are eligible in Phase 2C under rules for “correctional workers.” He also believed city firefighters, who respond to serious car accidents and some other medical emergencies, would be eligible as medical workers.

“There’s been some confusion about who is and is not eligible, not by age, but occupation,” said Brown on Friday. “We’re still trying to figure out where we sit, but it’s difficult to navigate and it’s ever-changing.”

Alberta’s rollout categorizes potential recipients into groups and sub groups.

This week, Alberta Health began booking appointments for all Group 2 eligible residents, including all Albertans born between 1957 and 1971.

Group 2B includes anyone over 16 with certain underlying conditions that might make COVID illness worse. Once that is complete, Phase 2C moves ahead with priority to front-line police and prison guards, a variety of health and care professions – including office staff – and meatpacking workers.

Several years ago city fire crews began responding to serious car crashes and other medical emergencies when they were considered the closest response unit by dispatchers.

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