Council to push province for firefighters to get vaccine priority

“ Our firefighters are medical first responders. They respond to the most critical of calls. Not all calls, but the most critical ones,” Coun,. Friesen said.

“ To take a group of people who deal in somewhat of a medical field, often first on the scene . To leave them out of being vaccinated when they consider healthcare workers, and front line workers to be at high risk and need vaccinations. I think it is not acceptable,” Coun. Friesen said.

The push for firefighters to receive vaccine priority has been province-wide, with the Alberta Fire Cheifs Association at the helm.

But some on the council were concerned that by supporting firefighter vaccine priority more requests will result from other occupations who also consider themselves essential, such as teachers and grocery store workers.

Voting in support of the motion, Mayor Ted Clugston, said it all came down to taking care of city employees.

“ As an employer, so I’m going to put my employer hat on, these are my employees, and so I do think it is important to advocate on their behalf, and they are first responders which I think maybe the government didn’t realize,” he said.

The MHPS, according to the city, is in line to receive their vaccines during the next phase.

by Tiffany Goodwein

Council to push province for firefighters to get vaccine priority

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