In the coming weeks, thousands of Coloradans will get access to COVID-19 vaccines. Wednesday, state health officials released a 3-phase plan, prioritizing high-exposure health care employees.
“We felt like there was a miss there,” says Don Lombardi. “They didn’t do as much homework as they should have.”
Lombardi is the fire chief for West Metro Fire Rescue, and a member of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs association, which sent a letter to Gov. Jared Polis criticizing the plan.
Under the plan released Wednesday, first responders, including EMS, police and firefighters, will be in the 1B category, below hospital workers and long-term care facility staff and residents.
“It’s not so much that we want to be put ahead of other health care professionals, but just to be in the same tier as them,” says Lombardi. Lombardi argues most COVID patients have contact with first responders long before they ever get to the hospital.