NYC first responders get first doses of COVID vaccine



New York City firefighters and FDNY EMS workers received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday. Photo via FDNY/Flickr

By David Brand

New York City first responders received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday.

 FDNY firefighters and emergency medical service workers began receiving the vaccine at the EMS Academy at Fort Totten, FDNY Headquarters in Brooklyn and the Randall’s Island Training Academy.  

Throughout the pandemic, firefighters and emergency medical workers have served New York City while responding to record-high call volumes. 

“Today has been a long-awaited moment for the EMT’s, paramedics and fire inspectors who have bravely responded to well over 1 million emergency medical calls this year, all throughout New York City,” said Oren Barzilay, head of the union representing FDNY EMS workers.  

“These vaccinations will bring ease to our workers, known as New York City’s Street Doctors, who enter people’s homes and places of work every day to protect life.”

The illness has taken its toll on the heroic workforce, killing five EMS workers and seven civilian FDNY staffers. Nevertheless, a recent survey of New York City firefighters found that more than half plan to forgo the vaccine. 

In a statement Wednesday, Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro urged his workers to get vaccinated now that medications from Pfizer and Moderna are available.

“Science has answered the call for help from our department and all essential frontline healthcare workers and produced a vaccine to combat this deadly illness,” Nigro said. “I strongly encourage all of our members to take the COVID-19 vaccine offered through the Department to protect themselves, their colleagues, and their loved ones.