The effort to protect Los Angeles Fire Department personnel from COVID-19 has almost stopped, as many firefighters refuse to get the vaccine.
At the end of last year, firefighters were the first city employees to have access to the shots. After an initial burst of activity, the number of people receiving the vaccine plummeted.
Last week, only 143 firefighters visited one of the department’s vaccination posts, according to data released by the city on Friday night. So far, 1,944 of the agency’s nearly 3,400 members have been inoculated, leaving 4 out of 10 vulnerable to the highly infectious coronavirus.
LA firefighters’ reluctance adds to the list of health professionals in the state who are refusing to get the vaccine, a trend that health experts say may have serious public health implications.
Firefighters are at the forefront of the pandemic, many working as paramedics and emergency medical technicians. More than 830 city firefighters – almost a quarter of the force – have had positive results so far. Two died, most recently Captain George Roque, 57, a 22-year-old veteran.
As part of their work in answering 911 calls and delivering patients to emergency rooms, many firefighters are in routine contact with sick patients. Regardless of being shot, they are required to wear protective equipment at work.
On Friday, Mayor Eric Garcetti said he would “potentially” make vaccination mandatory if firefighters remain reluctant in a few months.
“It is something we are talking about, especially those who will be interacting with the public,” said Garcetti, adding that other workers in the city can also be vaccinated mandatorily.
Representatives of the United Firefighters of Local 112 in the city of Los Angeles did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Garcetti’s comments.
In an attempt to encourage participation, the fire chief Ralph M. Terrazas has resorted to the award of those who get the picture right. Vaccinated firefighters participate in a drawing in which gifts include Canary home security cameras, Google Nest entertainment systems, Aventon fixed gear bikes and gift cards for Airbnb and Lyft.
The gifts are funded by the LAFD Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises money to support the department, according to a memo distributed by Terrazas that was obtained by The Times.
“We are educating our members with the facts about the vaccine and we hope that over time the number of vaccinated members will continue to increase,” said David Ortiz, a spokesman for the city’s fire department. “At the moment, we don’t plan to impose that.”