All Bloomington Fire Department employees have access to the COVID-19 vaccine, but many first responders remain hesitant about receiving it.
While all BFD employees could receive the Pfizer vaccine beginning Wednesday, Fire Chief Jason Moore said only about 40% of firefighters feel confident in the vaccine. He still encourages them to get it, though.
“If the front face of public safety and public health aren’t willing to go get vaccinated, then why would we expect the general public to go get vaccinated?” Moore said.
Moore received his first dose of the vaccine Wednesday morning along with three other fire department employees. He’ll return for his second shot in January. But he said he hopes over time that both emergency workers and community members feel more comfortable getting the vaccine.
READ MORE: Eighth BFD Employee This Month Tests Positive For COVID-19
Since December began, the City of Bloomington has reported eight new cases of COVID-19 among BFD employees, which is double the four cases previously reported. But Moore said employees aren’t spreading the virus at work.
According to the chief, BFD has 110 staff members spread across five firehouses and one training location, and in addition to new cleaning procedures and a one-day-on, two-days-off schedule intended to distance coworkers, employees must wear masks when within six feet of one another.
Moore said contact tracing has not identified close contacts among employees, and thanks to a generous sick-leave policy, BFD employees don’t need to worry about missing work when they feel sick either.
Even with eight new cases this month, about 8% positivity within the department, Moore doesn’t see this post-Thanksgiving spike as a unique issue.
“We did see a flair up just like everywhere else,” Moore said. “So we’re not any different than any other department or any other place per say.”
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