First responders prepare to get COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday

First responders are getting ready to roll up their sleeves for the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as Monday.

News 12 Staff

Jan 11, 2021, 12:22 PM

Updated 1,345 days ago

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First responders are getting ready to roll up their sleeves for the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as Monday.
Volunteer firefighters, like former Fire Chief Tony Gagliardi, from Williston Park, says first responders like him who rush to emergencies are exposed to COVID-19 more frequently.
Assistant Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro says he is helping to put out notifications to the 8,000 firefighters in Nassau County who are interested in signing up for a vaccine and even formulating a priority list of those who are most vulnerable with underlying conditions.
There's only a certain amount of doses available at certain vaccine distribution centers a day, so it will take some time for first responders to get vaccinated.
County Executive Laura Curran says on Monday they are prepared to vaccinate 1,000 people at the two county-run vaccination distribution centers located at Nassau Community College and at the Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury.
Chief of Suffolk County Police Stuart Cameron says they will be self-sufficient - some of his police officers who are also EMTs will be in charge of administering vaccinations for fellow officers in the county starting Monday.
Others in group 1b who will be eligible for the vaccine on Monday include corrections officers, teachers, public transit workers and people over the age of 75.