As the provincial health ministry announced its plan to immunize frontline workers in B.C. against COVID-19 in the next few weeks, eligible emergency responders and school staff on the Sunshine Coast are still waiting for more information.
While some of the included frontline workers on the Coast heard from public health officials as early as April 13 that they will be receiving immunizations in the coming weeks, others – such as the Sunshine Coast RCMP – have yet to hear any updates.
On April 12, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said that the first responders will receive their vaccines in order of high priority locations. Some people now eligible for the vaccine because of their work or volunteering have already been immunized because of their age category.
Fire departments
Across the Sunshine Coast, there are approximately 300 members of the volunteer fire departments, Gibsons and District Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rob Michael said.
Michael said the Gibsons fire department was first notified by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) on April 13, and he was anticipating more information the following week. Those being immunized will not get a choice of which vaccine they receive, but Michael said they will be “age appropriate” amid blood clot concerns surrounding AstraZeneca for younger members of the population.
“Although the departments are grateful that they’re being included in the next round of vaccinations, we really feel that this should have happened much earlier, especially considering we’re working with volunteers,” Michael said.
“They’re in a position where they need to weigh the risk to themselves and their families, versus the service that they’re providing to the community. We’ve seen attendance to practice sessions and callouts has certainly suffered as a result where the risks were too great for some of our members.”
Firefighters may have underlying health conditions themselves, or have family members or people in their household who are high-risk. Fire departments on the Sunshine Coast have put new pandemic protocols in place, with some introducing rotating schedules of members to limit interactions.
“Due to the nature of our service, we’re really unable to pre-screen our patients,” Michael said. “We’re called to service and our personal protective equipment is only one layer of protection.”
Sechelt Fire Department Chief Trevor Pike said, “I'm not even sure which way is going to be faster at this point, the public system or this new rollout that they’re proposing.” He added that he also has not been impressed with how long it is taking to vaccinate the volunteer fire departments, but said the rollout for frontline workers is at least another option for the first responders.
The Pender Harbour Volunteer Fire Department has put a stop to all in-person training since the beginning of the pandemic, Fire Chief Don Murray said.
Murray said he believes the majority of their 40 members will get the vaccine when it’s offered to them. He also said he was not pleased with the rollout for frontline workers, like Michael and Pike, noting that volunteer firefighters have been left unprotected while they continue to serve the community.
“We’re looking forward to getting everybody inoculated so we can get back to whatever the new normal is,” Murray said.
Police
As for the Sunshine Coast RCMP, as of April 16, Sgt. Don Newman said they had not received any new information about a schedule or timing for immunizing police officers and other members of the local detachment.
“We seem to be pushed down the queue, instead of pushed up... I think there's definitely a huge oversight by Vancouver Coastal Health and the province when they haven’t chosen to vaccinate police in a more proper manner, especially when we're walking in and out of hospitals and people’s homes,” he said, adding that he is in support of paramedics and others receiving the vaccine already.
School staff
Sunshine Coast School District 46 (SD46) superintendent Patrick Bocking told Coast Reporter the district is excited about the forthcoming immunization plan, and they will be keeping school staff informed about the rollout as more information becomes available.
In SD46, approximately 650 school and district staff will be eligible to receive the vaccine if they haven’t already. The rollout will include the custodial workers and maintenance staff employed by the school district, as well as teachers and administration.
“We’re fortunate, of course, to be in an area that has a very low exposure rate,” Bocking said. “It does mean that they will do vaccinations in higher exposure areas first, and then they’ll get to us … in the next few weeks.”
The rollout for frontline workers comes after the Ministry of Education announced in late March that students in Grade 4 and older will be required to wear masks in schools. Bocking welcomed the recent measures to protect staff and students.
“We all are fatigued of the pandemic, of course. It’s been very, very difficult for so many people. And so I see all of these steps as a wonderful thing to work together as a community to rid ourselves of this pandemic. So I hope everyone, as much as they can and within their own health priorities, are able to participate in this solution,” he said.
Child care workers are also slated to receive the vaccination along with frontline workers.
