Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department begins vaccinating its firefighters

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — This week frontline workers are getting the chance to receive the Moderna vaccine at the Prime F. Osborn Convention Center.

Action News Jax reported last week when Randy Wyse, the president of the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters, and other JFRD staff members got their vaccine.

Five days later Wyse told Action News Jax reporter Alicia Tarancon he feels great.

“I had some shoulder soreness for probably two to three days afterward, but again, not like anything else I haven’t gone through before,” Wyse said.

JFRD told Tarancon because its firefighters work different hours, it’s rolling out the vaccinations in shifts.

On Monday, 25% of shifts A, B, and C will get vaccinated. On Tuesday, another 25% from each of those shifts will receive the vaccine.

JFRD said all 60 stations will make their way to the convention center in order to get the Moderna vaccine.

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The department said the goal is to get all 1,600 of their uniformed staff members vaccinated, as well as their support staff, although it’s not mandatory.

Wyse told me he understands some of the hesitation.

“Totally respect the decision not to. When you read the Moderna sheet that comes out with it. There’s something in there that make you take pause,” he said.

He does want to remind first responders that whether they get the vaccine or not and get sick, they’ll still be covered under workmen’s comp.

JFRD said as soon as staff members like paramedics get vaccinated, they’ll be able to assist the rest of the community in administering the vaccine.

“Getting the frontline workers, public safety, health workers, all the ones that the state has laid out is very important to making it to respond to people that are still sick so again it will take a lot of stress off these fire fighters that respond on a daily basis,” Wyse said.

JFRD told me it’s hoping to vaccinate all their employees in the next 6 days although it could take longer.

Cox Media Group