The Park City Fire District has vaccinated Park City firefighters and Summit County EMTs.
More than 97% of Park City firefighters have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ashley Lewis is the Administrative Battalion Chief for the district. He said everything with vaccine rollout came together quickly.
“We were hearing of other fire departments and other fire agencies receiving the vaccine,” Lewis said. “We knew our turn was coming...we just didn't know when exactly. I know, through the hard work of Park City Hospital and Summit County Health Department, they were able to make things line up for us to get in and get it.”
He said this will add a layer of protection for first responders.
“It just felt like the apprehension about the virus in general, there was some relief there,” he said. “The overwhelming mood was I think of excitement.”
Even though they now have some form of reassurance, local firefighters and EMTs will continue to take necessary COVID-19 mitigation protocols, like wearing personal protective equipment.
And in the near future, Lewis said the fire district is planning to help with the vaccine roll out.
“The health department is thoroughly engaged in creating the plans for the mass vaccination clinics,” he said. “There's a lot of different things involved in that and let them speak to it. But planning logistics and making sure the right people are in the right places. So, you know, heaven forbid, there's a severe anaphylactic reaction, the appropriate people there to help that individual. We're there to support the community and our local leaders, however we can.”
He said by the end of the month all the Park City firefighters will hopefully have received their second dose.
