VIDEO: The Des Moines Firefighters' Union is upset that some of its members became ill after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and have to use regular sick time while they recover.
The union had a deal that the city could not county recovery from the COVID-19 vaccine as regular sick leave. But the deal was made before anyone knew how people would react to the vaccine.
"The adverse effect of the shot is that our folks are getting sick, but it's not necessarily within those first 24 hours," said Joe Van Haalen, the president of the Des Moines Firefighters' Union.
Van Haalen said the union reached an agreement that the city would cover sick time for firefighters 24 hours after the COVID-19 vaccination. But many firefighters work 24 hours on, 48 hours off shifts. Nearly a dozen got sick after the 24-hour period. So the city made them use regular sick leave.