Victoria firefighters to help administer COVID-19 vaccines with Island Health
More than a dozen Victoria firefighters have been trained to help administer COVID-19 vaccines with Island Health, the city announced Thursday.
The municipality says that 14 firefighters underwent vaccine distribution training after Island Health sent a request for support due to staff shortages.
The qualified firefighters can now sign up for any shift with Island Health, so long as it does not overlap with their regular work shift at the fire department, according to the city.
"As first responders, firefighters are highly trained and ready to do all they can to protect the public," said acting Fire Chief Daniel Atkinson in a release Thursday.
"Helping to get more people vaccinated sooner is a meaningful way we can protect public safety and support the important work Island Health is doing to keep us all healthy," he said.
The municipality notes that other health authorities, including Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health, have already been using off-duty firefighters to assist with vaccination efforts.
Island Health will also reimburse the City of Victoria with any costs related to the project.
"Victoria firefighters always step up in times of need," said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps on Thursday.
"It’s not at all surprising that their commitment to public safety extends to helping the community continue to hit the high vaccination rates needed to make it to the other side of the pandemic."
On July 16, Island Health announced that it had administered more than one-million COVID-19 vaccine doses.
At the time, approximately 78 per cent of people aged 12 and older had received their first dose in the health authority, while 48 per cent had received two doses, according to Island Health.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
Ontario Provincial Police say they have 'disrupted' an organized crime group that allegedly used an emergency grandparent scam to defraud seniors across Canada out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns
The Canada Border Services Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.
BREAKING Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.