Paramedics, Firefighters, Seniors to Begin Receiving COVID-19 Vaccinations Monday

Pasadena firefighters will begin receiving coronavirus vaccinations on Monday, but it has not been determined when police officers and the public will be inoculated.

“We are still unknown on the date for the Police Department,” said Pasadena police Lt. William Grisafe.

The vaccine will be administered Monday to firefighters coming off their 48-hour shift.  

Pasadena firefighters work three shifts, with 50 firefighters per shift. Each shift works 48-hours. 

The second group of firefighters will receive the vaccine on Wednesday.

“This is typically the busiest time of year for the city of Pasadena as we prepare for the Tournament of Roses Parade and Game and thousands of people line the streets of Colorado [Boulevard] on New Year’s Eve,” said city spokesperson Lisa Derderian. 

“Receiving the vaccine is a first step for our firefighters as they look forward to helping our community return to normalcy and hope as we enter 2021,” Derderian said. 

The city received 1,950 doses of the vaccine earlier this month. The vaccine was first distributed to health care workers. Seniors will also begin receiving the vaccine on Monday.

All but one of the dozens of nursing facilities in Pasadena have signed up to receive vaccines under a federal program that partners with pharmacies including CVS and Walgreens, Derderian said. 

The Pasadena Public Health Department was coordinating vaccines with the lone assisted care facility not taking part in the federal program.

The vaccine requires a break of 21 days between the first and second doses. 

The vaccine comes amid a devastating surge of the virus.  California has reported an average of 100.5 daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past seven days, which places it comfortably ahead of second-place Tennessee. There, health officials saw an average of 89.6 daily cases per 100,000 residents over the same time period.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported on Saturday that there were nearly 30,000 new COVID-19 infections since Christmas and 142 more deaths due to the virus.

“While the vaccine gives us great hope for the coming year, we need your help as we continue to experience a crush of COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. Lori J. Morgan, president and CEO of Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. 

“We are pleading with the community to help us stop the current surge by following health orders: limit activities to those that are essential only, continue to wear a mask and remain physically distance when engaging in essential activities, and especially refrain from gathering with anyone outside of your household and non-essential travel during the holidays,” Morgan said.