Guayaquil Fire Department personnel have not received a COVID-19 vaccine despite being scheduled | Community | Guayaquil

There is concern among members of this institution, as they transport patients with COVID-19 in their ambulances on a daily basis.

There is concern among the members of the Guayaquil Fire Department, as they indicate they have not received the COVID-19 vaccine as they are part of the first line of combat of the pandemic and despite having been on the list to be inoculated.

Goldy Rivas, Communication Director of the Guayaquil Fire Department, explained that the institution gave the health authorities a list of the members to be considered in the vaccination process.

He indicated that on Friday, March 12, the Ministry of Public Health confirmed to the firefighters of Guayaquil, Samborondón and Durán that they would be vaccinated on Monday, March 15 and Tuesday, March 16.

“The same day that we were to be vaccinated (Monday 15), in the early morning they informed us that this process had been canceled due to logistical issues and after that we did not have new dates for the vaccination of the Guayaquil firefighters,” said Rivas.

He added that just this Friday, April 9, they were told that the firefighters would be included in the vaccination process, the logistics of which is in charge of the Municipality of Guayaquil and will begin on Tuesday the 13. However, the Ministry of Health did not confirm the date.

Rivas assured that, at present, members of the fire brigade keep moving patients with COVID-19 in their ambulances, so they are exposed to becoming infected.

“Only in the month of March 2021, the Guayaquil Fire Department ambulances attended 2,229 emergencies. Of these, 268 were due to respiratory problems, which is an alarming figure, because it is a similar figure to the one we had in March 2020 ″, said Rivas.

He added that this number is increasing, since in the first eight days of April 2021 114 emergencies due to respiratory problems have been attended.

Guayaquil firefighters mourn the departure of eight members

“We are increasing (numbers of COVID-19 care), we find a very important emergency exit on the front line. Firefighters are eager to be vaccinated because everyone’s life is at risk on a daily basis, ”said Rivas.

Members of the Guayaquil Fire Department have participated in the logistics to implement the seven vaccination points that will be in charge of the Municipality of Guayaquil, whose operation will begin on Tuesday 13.

“We are providing support with volunteer firefighters, paramedics and ambulances at the seven vaccination points,” said Rivas.

Since March 2020, eight members of the Guayaquil Fire Department have lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Luis Páez, Guillermo Lázaro, Antonio Lacera, Santo León, William Zambrano, Javier Maura, Eugenio Valarezo and Heinz Rodríguez.

As a tribute, their names appear on a plaque located on the obelisk of the Fire Department that rests inside the Patrimonial Cemetery of Guayaquil. (I)

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