Over Half of NYC Firefighters Say They Will Refuse COVID-19 Vaccine: Poll
Firefighters are more at risk of being infected with the coronavirus
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More than half of New York City firefighters say they will not get vaccinated with the new COVID-19 vaccine if the department offered it.
According to a CNN report, the findings come amid research showing that firefighters are more at risk of being infected with the coronavirus.
The poll found almost 55% of 2,000 queried FDNY firefighters wouldn't be interested in receiving the inoculation, according to Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro.
The poll asked:
"Will you get the COVID-19 Vaccine from Pfizer when the Department makes it available?"
Over 1,100 firefighters said they had no intention of receiving the vaccine.
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Recent research found that New York City first responders were 15 times more likely to be infected with the virus than other cities.
The research was conducted by FDNY medical officer, Michael Weiden, who discovered 5,715 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases among FDNY members between March and May.
2 FDNY workers were hospitalized, and four died, according to the findings.
"During this period," CNN reports, "the infection rate among FDNY workers was 15 times the rate of the general population in New York City."
"But the group also had lower rates of severe coronavirus disease than the general New York City population."
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Ansbro said he hopes more firefighters and first responders will receive the vaccination.
"I will definitely get it," he revealed.
"I hope more members get it."
"I will encourage them to get it, but at the end of the day, it is a hundred percent their own choice."
FDNY spokesperson Jim Long said in a statement to CNN:
"We're going to offer the vaccine to everyone that is interested and wanting to take the vaccine. We feel that we, the department and the UFA, are going to work together to provide the best information to our membership so they can make a decision whether to be vaccinated or not."
Trump vowed that coronavirus vaccines will never be made mandatory in America while he's the President.
Trump said vaccinations should not be forced on the public because "people feel strongly" about the issue.
"I don't believe I'd ever do a mandated vaccine, because I just don't think I would do that, where you have to have it," Trump said in October.
