SBFD receives State approval for Community Vaccinator Program
With the announcement of potential new vaccines to slow the spread of COVID-19, the State and Community Fire and EMS leaders began planning for the delivery of vaccines in a mass vaccination program.
In December, the State put out a call for Fire & EMS agencies for help in administering these new vaccines to Vermonters. SBFD was one of the first to answer this urgent call. Within 24 hours, 21 agencies indicated that they were available to help their citizens in any way possible. In the first 72 hours 48 Fire/EMS agencies representing more than 500 Firefighter/EMTs and EMTs were queued up to assist.
Today the majority of SBFD’s FF/EMTs have completed the training necessary to give the COVID 19 vaccines at the State Health Department’s Vaccination PODS - Points of Distribution clinics. These PODS are being rolled out over the coming weeks, throughout the State.
Vermont is currently the only State to mobilize its Firefighters, First Responders, Health Care professionals, and the Vermont Medical Reserve Corps to administer these vaccines Statewide.
The Vermont Department of Health (VDOH) is constantly evaluating where COVID-19 vaccines will be most effective, to slow the spread of this deadly virus. On Monday (01/25) most of the Heath Care workers, First Responders and Congregate Care people have received their 1st round of vaccine, totaling 52,000 injections delivered. The next eligible group, age 75 and above should to contact the VDOH website and begin scheduling their vaccines. People without an appointment cannot receive a vaccine.
We will see you at the Vaccination PODS soon. If you have an appointment, please make every effort to keep it. Missing an appointment slows down the vaccination process for our citizens, and could cause the wasting of doses as the vaccine is time, and temperature sensitive.
At your appointment: please be on time, have your photo ID, wear a mask, keep social distancing, and wash your hands. It works!