40% of LA Firefighters aren't showing up to get vaccinated

[SunSeeker]

Late last year, firefighters were the first city workers given access to the shots. After an initial burst of activity, the number showing up to get the vaccine has plummeted. This past week only 143 firefighters visited one of the department’s vaccination centers, according to data released by the city Friday night. So far, 1,944 of the agency’s just under 3,400 members have been inoculated, leaving four in 10 vulnerable to the highly infectious coronavirus.

The reluctance of L.A. firefighters adds to the list of healthcare workers in the state who are declining to take the vaccine, a trend that health experts say could have serious public health implications.

Firefighters are on the front lines of the pandemic, with many working as paramedics and emergency medical technicians. More than 830 city firefighters — nearly one-quarter of the force — have tested positive thus far. Two have died, most recently Capt. George Roque, 57, a 22-year veteran.

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/push-to-get-l-a-firefighters-vaccinated-against-covid-19-loses-steam-as-many-fail-to-show-up/

[Botany]

1. Fine then they don't need to come to work anymore

n/t

[Mr.Bill]

3. Yeah, that's not a good plan in California

when fire season gets here.

[Botany]

10. I know it is not reality based but I am sick of the stupid that has taken over America

In OH 60% of the workers in nursing homes have also rejected getting the vaccine.

[Mr.Bill]

11. See my post #7 below.

[Dem2theMax]

13. Already here. 😳

There were evacuations, but thankfully, our wonderful firefighters got it out.

This was in Northern San Diego County, two days ago.

[mucifer]

2. My friend is vaccinating people in Chicago. She says a lot of people

aren't showing up for their second shot. These are the health care workers who got their first shots and didn't come back.
It's subjective and I don't know how many. But, it made me sad.

[drray23]

4. We really are a country filled with idiots.nt.

[Rebl2]

12. I have

a friend who is a nurse and knows of nurses who refuse to get flu shots. Don’t know how they keep their jobs.

[dutch777]

5. Ok, you go to the end of the line and if you get sick with Covid...no PTO

It really should be a requirement of employment EVERYWHERE

[JDC]

6. Why I wonder? They got the first one, why not the second?

[Mr.Bill]

7. Also consider this - my daughter is an RN/Administrator

at our local small hospital. She is the vaccine coordinator. A few days ago she told me only 60% of the staff had been vaccinated. They have plenty of doses. I was shocked to hear this, I mean why wouldn't an RN at a hospital want to be vaccinated? But I didn't know all the facts.

The real story is this is planned. They are being vaccinated in stages for a very good reason. They could have done everybody in one day, it's a small hospital. But because of the risk of reactions to the vaccine, they didn't want to have too many of the staff out sick, even if only for a few days. Now they have seen than only a tiny bit had any reaction to it. But they are still proceeding with caution.

So I wonder if some reporter saw the numbers (which are curiously similar to my daughter's hospital) and jumped to a conclusion like I did without fully investigating the situation and talking to the people in charge of the program. Just a thought.

[TreasonousBastard]

8. My first question was "Why?" and this sounds like as good an answer as any. I hope there...

is some follow-up.

[Mr.Bill]

9. I can also add that their annual compliance

with flu shots at the hospital is in the upper 90s percentile. There are a few who have genuine allergies or religious restrictions to that vaccine. Their policy is, don't get the vaccine, wear a mask every minute you are on hospital grounds. I worked there as a volunteer and I would, during the course of the day, see one or two people wearing masks. There are very few anti-vaxers among hospital workers. I'm not familiar with the firefighter culture.

[SunSeeker]

18. I have 3 relatives who are firefighters. There's a lot of crazy right wingers in the profession.

1 out of the 3 is crazy over the top right wing and racist. Much like the percentage you see with cops. He's retired now.

I was not surprised when I heard they arrested that retired firefighter for throwing a fire extinguisher at cops at the Capitol. I thought of my crazed relative and was relieved it wasn't him.

Google racism at fire stations. There are a lot of right wing racist macho white guys who comprise the ranks of firefighters. They have made life hell for Black and female firefighters. It's disgusting.

[SunSeeker]

14. No, the 40% is not planned. It's pathetic.

I wish they would let us folks in the community have the vaccines they're not using.

What a waste!

[Mr.Bill]

15. Did you even read my post?

The vaccines will be used on health care workers in the coming days. They are not being wasted.

[SunSeeker]

16. It is a waste that they had this opportunity and are blowing it off, endangering us.

I didn't say the vaccines were wasted. What these firefighters did in blowing off their vaccinations is inexcusable and pathetic.

Healthcare workers can already get vaccines, they were first to get them. It's the rest of us that could use them here in LA, especially if we happen to need the services one of those 40% of firefighters who won't get vaccinated.

[Mr.Bill]

17. Okay, I misunderstood.

I thought you were talking about the hospital situation I described. I can't speak about the specifics of the firefighter situation, because I don't know if they may be vaccinating their personnel in stages like they are doing at the hospital.

The biggest problem we have now is the disappearing federal stockpile. I'm worried the second shot won't be available for some who got the first one. Oh, well, we are three days from better federal management of the supply. I still think Kushner was selling it in the Middle East while he was over there in recent weeks and pocketing the money. One last grift.