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Nearly half of Philadelphia’s fire and police workers are unvaccinated despite being eligible to receive the shot for months, according to unions representing both groups.
Philadelphia Firefighters Local 22, which represents about 2,800 firefighters and EMTs, reported 51% of its members have been vaccinated. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge Five reported 3,562 members have been vaccinated, more than half the force. The union did not offer any demographic breakdowns of that number and was not able to distinguish between officers and civilian employees.
Both the Philadelphia Fire Department and Police Department declined to confirm vaccination rates among employees, or rates of COVID-19 infections.
“Our members are people, they’re human beings, they have the same kind of concerns that everybody has,” said Adam Thiel, the city’s fire commissioner and director of emergency management. “That said, we’re hoping that more and more folks, not just in the Fire Department but in the entire city, take advantage of these safe and effective vaccines.”
Thiel noted firefighters wore protective gear when interacting with the public, including masks, that should prevent them from posing a risk to others even if they had not been vaccinated.
Philadelphia Firefighters Local 22, which represents about 2,800 firefighters and EMTs, reported 51% of its members have been vaccinated. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge Five reported 3,562 members have been vaccinated, more than half the force. The union did not offer any demographic breakdowns of that number and was not able to distinguish between officers and civilian employees.
Both the Philadelphia Fire Department and Police Department declined to confirm vaccination rates among employees, or rates of COVID-19 infections.
“Our members are people, they’re human beings, they have the same kind of concerns that everybody has,” said Adam Thiel, the city’s fire commissioner and director of emergency management. “That said, we’re hoping that more and more folks, not just in the Fire Department but in the entire city, take advantage of these safe and effective vaccines.”
Thiel noted firefighters wore protective gear when interacting with the public, including masks, that should prevent them from posing a risk to others even if they had not been vaccinated.
Nearly half of Philly’s firefighters and police have skipped COVID-19 vaccines, unions say
While city officials and unions are eager to see public safety workers vaccinated, they are hesitant about forcing the issue.
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