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Ohio county to vaccinate 1K FFs, EMTs by end of week

The board of health received 4,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine last week, and on Dec. 23 it vaccinated the team that would administer vaccines

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The board of health received 4,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine last week, and on Dec. 23 it vaccinated the team that would administer vaccines.

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By Cameron Fields
cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cuyahoga County Board of Health anticipates vaccinating about 1,000 county firefighters and EMTs with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the week, board of health spokesman Kevin Brennan said Tuesday.

The board will hold two more vaccination sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Independence fire station and Westlake fire station No. 2 on Columbia Road, respectively. Firefighters and EMTs can come be vaccinated between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The first vaccination session was Monday in Shaker Heights, and about 360 Cuyahoga County firefighters and EMTs were vaccinated, said Shaker Heights Fire Chief Patrick Sweeney. Sweeney said he hopes more than 1,000 people can be vaccinated this week.

Brennan said those who couldn’t make the Monday session have the opportunity to be vaccinated Tuesday or Wednesday. He said accommodations could be made to vaccinate others who aren’t able to come this week.

“It’s critical that we are able to protect those who are counted on to protect us,” Brennan said. “I think we’re proud and we’re very happy to be able to serve such a pivotal role in protecting the public at large because if the EMS workers are not able to come to work because they’re sick, then we all suffer.”

Sweeney said about 450 firefighters had been infected across the county since the start of the pandemic. About 95% of the Shaker Heights crew was vaccinated Monday, with the remaining group either infected with COVID-19 or just coming out of quarantine. Sweeney said he was advised that people who are sick or are recently recovering should not yet receive the vaccine.

The board of health received 4,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine last week, and on Dec. 23 it vaccinated the team that would administer vaccines.

Brennan said the board of health will next focus on vaccinating people in congregate living settings, particularly group homes. Brennan said outbreaks have happened at group homes across the county, and the board of health wants to vaccinate group home residents and staff.

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(c)2020 The Plain Dealer, Cleveland

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