Union leaders representing firefighters in departments throughout Kitsap County are pushing back on a state mandate that health care workers – including firefighters, paramedics and EMTs – be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Those representing South Kitsap, Bremerton, Central Kitsap, Poulsbo and North Kitsap firefighters joined union leaders for Tacoma, Pierce County and South King County departments in signing on to a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee this week opposing the requirement, saying that it, as written, will have “significant impacts on frontline workers, our communities, and emergency services.”
“Firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics, are the epitome of frontline workers, and we have witnessed up-close the devastation that COVID-19 has caused within our communities,” the letter said. “We agree that vaccination plays a crucial role in stopping the spread of COVID-19.