The Fire Department of New York – FDNY COVID19 vaccination plan began in earnest on Tuesday for the front line heroes facing the pandemic in the community.

“I’d like to thank the Department, Chief Medical Officer, the nurses and all the members who made this happen so quickly and worked so hard to bring this vaccine to our members. I have full confidence in the vaccine and its efficacy.

I think this is the path back to what we would consider a normal life and we are encouraging all our members to participate,” says Fire Department of New York Uniformed Firefighters Association Health and Safety Officer Michael Schreiber, who received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine today along with other FDNY Firefighters.

UFA President Andrew Ansbro says, “I just received my first dose of the Moderna Vaccine and scheduled my second dose. I’m looking forward to society getting back to normal. I encourage all the members in the Department to sign up and get vaccinated.” 

FDNY COVID19 Vaccination Plan Faces Uphill Battle

In early December a poll found fifty percent of FDNY firefighters would decline the vaccination.

The FDNY Moderna COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, conducted by the FDNY Bureau of Health Services (BHS) in conjunction with the Bureau of Operations, continues at FDNY Headquarters in Brooklyn, the FDNY EMS Academy at Fort Totten, and the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall’s Island.

COVID-19 vaccinations began on December 23, and will continue for the next several weeks. As of today, over 1,000 FDNY members have been vaccinated.

It is unclear if the current approved vaccination will work against the new UK COVID19 strain which has been found in Colorado via community transmission.