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NE Washington Firefighters To Receive Covid Vaccine Next Week

Courtesy of Stevens County Fire District 1

The people at the top of the Covid vaccine pyramid are health care workers in high-risk situations and people associated with long-term care facilities.

 

But first responders are high on the list too. In fact, firefighters in Stevens County will receive the Covid vaccine in a matter of days.

 

Fire District 1 Chief Mike Bucy says Stevens County officials contacted him and the county’s other fire districts to determine how many doses they may need of the new Pfizer vaccine.

 

He says 33 firefighters out of 70 have committed to getting the shots initially, including himself.

Bucy says the initial immunizations will start as early as the beginning of next week, but he wants to space out the shots over a few days to ensure he still has an ample number of crew members available in case any recipients get side effects.

 

While rural areas in Washington typically see fewer cases of the virus, Bucy says, in recent weeks, EMS calls to Covid positive homes have picked up.

 

“We probably resend them to four or five calls a week that have Covid positive patients confirmed. And so it's important that all of our people are vaccinated or have the opportunity for the vaccination," Bucy said.

In the city of Spokane, Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer says it will be about two weeks before vaccinations start with his employees. He says the limited vaccine is going to health care facilities first.

 

 

Steve was part of the Spokane Public Radio family for many years before he came on air in 1999. His wife, Laurie, produced Radio Ethiopia in the late 1980s through the '90s, and Steve used to “lurk in the shadowy world” of Weekend SPR. Steve has done various on air shifts at the station, including nearly 15 years as the local Morning Edition host. Currently, he is the voice of local weather and news during All Things Considerd, writing, editing, producing and/or delivering newscasts and features for both KPBX and KSFC. Aside from SPR, Steve ,who lives in the country, enjoys gardening, chickens, playing and listening to music, astronomy, photography, sports cars and camping.