Massachusetts firefighters say state lacks viable plan to get first responders vaccinated

BOSTON — The union representing more than 12,000 Massachusetts firefighters says the state doesn’t have a viable plan to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to first responders.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has tasked local health departments with administering and distributing the vaccine to first responders, who are included in the first phase of the state’s rollout plan.

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The Professional Fire Fighters Association of Massachusetts (PFFM) says the local health departments aren’t structurally prepared to execute the plan.

“I don’t think this was the right plan,” PFFM President Rich MacKinnon told Boston 25 News. “No discredit to any local board of health, but they’re not adequately staffed or equipped to carry out the plan. They’re overwhelmed, and deservedly so, after being tasked with so much over the course of the pandemic by DPH”

Kate Reilly, a spokesperson for the state’s COVID-19 Response Command Center, told Boston 25 News the state is planning to start vaccinations for police, fire and EMS in mid-January.

“The Command Center and the Executive Office of Public Safety look forward to this week’s meeting with first responders to review the planning that is underway to stand up sites for vaccinations” Reilly said. “More information will be made available as this process progresses.”

The Command Center is working with local health departments, hospitals and other medical providers to determine their capacity to vaccinate and to identify sites where first responders can be vaccinated. The state will post and initial list on sites online by the end of the month and additional providers will be added as they’re identified.

MacKinnon said the firefighters want to be part of the solution. More than 7,000 members are also licensed emergency medical technicians or paramedics who can administer the vaccine.

“We realize there’s some reporting and data information that has to be collected and summitted, but we’re always willing to be a part of the process,” MacKinnon said.

McKinnon said he isn’t aware of any firefighters in the state getting vaccinated yet except for a couple dozen New Bedford firefighters who received the vaccination from a community health center that had additional doses available.

He said he had heard a handful of cities and towns may begin vaccinating first responders on Monday, but the majority of the communities have no concrete plans for when, how and where first responders will be getting the vaccine.

First responders in New Hampshire started getting vaccinated on Tuesday, which MacKinnon said has been discouraging for his members.

“That is what is hitting home for them – When are we? Why not us?” MacKinnon said.

MacKinnon is calling on his members to contact their local boards of health and ask what their vaccination plans are for first responders who want to get vaccinated.

The Command Center is also actively looking for sites and identifying clinical partners to build mass vaccination sites which will launch early next year. Once they’re up and running, they’ll be available to first responders and other prioritized groups.

Firefighters haven’t been spared by the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts. MacKinnon said 802 firefighters are currently infected with COVID-19 and 650 others are in quarantine after coming into contact with patients or co-workers who tested positive for the virus.

“That obviously has a negative impact on our ability to staff and maybe in some cases respond to incidents,” MacKinnon said.

Cox Media Group