NEW YORK – The first vaccines available to some of New York City’s first responders could be distributed in a matter of weeks, according to an internal memo from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). and obtained by our sister network NBC News.
The memo sent to emergency medical technicians, paramedics and firefighters says distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine “will potentially begin in mid-December” pending approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. ., (FDA, for its acronym in English).
The memorandum, issued by Commissioner Daniel Nigro and the department head, emphasizes that the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine will “NOT” be mandatory “but the Department recommends that members consider overall health benefits.”
The FDNY, particularly paramedics and EMTs, were particularly affected by the virus this spring with up to 1 in 4 doctors sick during the height of the pandemic, thus far, in New York City.
The Department also handled a record of more than 6,500 9-1-1 calls over nearly a week as COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths skyrocketed across the city.
In Nigro’s memo, he promised that the FDNY will continue to have priority access to EPP in its role as essential healthcare workers, which includes the vaccine when and if approved.
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