Only 55% of the city’s fire departments have received a coronavirus injection, a lower number than originally announced, Los Angeles fire department officials said Monday.
Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said in a statement to The Times that the department has “reconciled its vaccination figures across various software platforms” in recent days and found that 1,842 of the approximately 3,400 regular firefighters volunteered to be vaccinated. since shots started on December 28.
The department reported in mid-January that 60% of the firefighters had been vaccinated. The doses are offered to firefighters every week.
As a result, 45% of the troops are still potentially unprotected against the sometimes deadly coronavirus. While several hundred firefighters who recently contracted the virus have been advised to wait 90 days before having the opportunity, so far hundreds of firefighters have refused to participate.
LA firefighters who are reluctant add to the list of health workers in the state refusing to take the vaccine, a trend health experts say could have serious public health implications.
Firefighters are at the forefront of the pandemic, with many working as paramedics and emergency medical personnel. More than 860 city firefighters – about a quarter of the force – have tested positive to date. Two have died, most recently Capt. George Roque, 57, a 22-year veteran.
As part of their job of responding to emergency calls and taking patients to the emergency room, many firefighters have routine contact with sick patients. Regardless of whether or not they get a chance, they are required to wear protective equipment on the job.
Despite the department’s low turnout, the number of firefighters testing positive for the coronavirus has dropped significantly since the city fire department began offering its members vaccinations, Terrazas said in a memo to firefighters last week.
To encourage participation, the department has resorted to offering prizes to those who get the chance. Vaccinated firefighters enter a raffle where gifts include Canary Island home security cameras, Google Nest entertainment systems, Aventon fixed gear bikes and gift cards for Airbnb and Lyft.
The donations are funded by the LAFD Foundation, a nonprofit that raises money to support the department, according to a Terrazas distributed memo obtained by The Times.
Both Terrazas and Mayor Eric Garcetti have said they might make the vaccination mandatory if firefighters remain reluctant over time, though neither has yet to indicate he’s ready to take that step.
“The LAFD will continue to offer the vaccine to its sworn members on a weekly basis,” said Terrazas. “I and our union partners strongly encourage all our firefighters to get the vaccine as soon as possible.”
Judy Mark, chairman of the Disability Voices United advocacy group, said if front-line workers, including firefighters, were all vaccinated, “that would certainly keep us much safer.”
Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent decision to shift vaccine priority to an age-based eligibility structure angered Mark’s group and others, who argue that disabled people will have to wait longer to be vaccinated.
“If there are firefighters and health workers who don’t want the shots, they have to step aside for those who do,” said Mark.
Bill Przylucki, executive director of the progressive advocacy group Ground Game LA, said unhoused people regularly come into contact with firefighters because of medical problems and camp fires and arson attacks.
Przylucki said he deeply appreciates the emergency responders and begged them to take the vaccine.
“It’s really frustrating when government employees don’t show that solidarity with the community they serve,” said Przylucki.