As the number of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. approaches 450,000, vaccine manufacturers are working to get more doses to state and local governments faster, even as variant strains of the virus are testing the vaccine’s efficacy.
First responders are some of the first to be offered the vaccine; however, there is a strong divide within the public safety community about whether they will take it.
We asked the FireRescue1 community “Do you plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine?”
The results: Of the 1,300 respondents, 26% said they already got the vaccine, 24% said they would get the vaccine “under any circumstances,” and 11% said they would get the vaccine but “only if voluntary so I can do it on my terms/timeline.”
In contrast, 29% of respondents said they would not get the vaccine under any circumstances, and %1 said they would get the vaccine but only because it’s mandated by their department.
Another 9% are unsure about receiving it.
Here’s a snapshot of some of what some members of the FR1 community had to say about getting the vaccine:
- “I’ll be first in line!!!!”
- “No. I feel like more testing needs done. I have some concerns with how the vaccine is created. I have never gotten the flu or pneumonia vaccines either.”
- “Pretty easy decision for me. Covid has known long term complications, 25% of people who end up in the ICU end up with permanent heart or lung damage. Covid has known hyper coagulation and in a job that already puts us at a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. I’ll take the probably won’t have any long term effects over the risk of known long term effects. Besides some people still haven’t gotten their taste back...... that might be an advantage come to think about it with some fire house cooking.”
- Not yet, till too many variables, i.e. mutations.”
- “I will be more than glad to get the vaccines. The difficulty is in waiting for my turn.
You can join this conversation on Facebook.
Interestingly, in an effort to increase vaccination rates among first responders, some cities are rewarding firefighters who choose to get the COVID-19 vaccine with prizes that include money, gift cards, sports equipment and electronics, but some say they can’t be enticed: “It’s a hard no for me, and there’s no amount of money or prizes that’ll change my mind,” on member replied on Facebook.
Additional resources for first responders
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, check out these additional resources:
- Sizing up the COVID-19 vaccine: Firefighters, researchers separate fact from fiction
- Can public safety employers require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
- CDC releases COVID-19 vaccine communication toolkit for essential workers
- COVID-19 variants: What first responders need to know
- Get vaccinated, win the ultimate prizes of good health and service to others
