Monroe County EMS workers from 19 different agencies began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, beginning with 40 EMS and ambulance workers. All went to the county’s new vaccination center, set up at the County Fleet Vehicle Maintenance Center.
Health Department officials say the EMS workers can’t socially distance from patients in an ambulance, and have to be in close proximity with them. That puts them at risk of contracting the virus. Health Department Emergency Planner Mike Sayers says they’ll be ramping up the vaccinations this week until all Emergency Medical Service workers are covered, then they’ll proceed with police and firefighters. They anticipate being able to handle hundreds of people per week for months to come.