WHITMAN — The first round of COVID-19 vaccinations have arrived in town.
Whitman Firefighters received the Moderna vaccine this starting Wednesday, Jan. 13. First responders are some of the primary front ine workers to receive the vaccination in a state wide effort against COVID.
Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno, Medical Director Dr. Daniel Muse of Brockton Hospital Signature Health Care and Whitman fire personnel combined their efforts to get the area town fire departments the vials of the anticipated inoculation.
The minimum of 200 people required for a vaccine site was not met so the department had to pool together and Brockton Hospital Signature Health Care was nice enough to take on all area departments, said Matt Busch Whitman fire’s EMS officer.
They are operating under the umbrella of Brockton Hospital who does all the ordering to meet the state mandate.
They received 24 doses for department members, which were distributed over two days. The second shot will be in 28 days for the two part vaccine.
Whitman Fire rescue went through a long process with the state to get their Massachusetts Immunization Information certification, said Firefighter Steve Foster infection control officer.
They are now registered as an inoculation site for the state of Massachusetts when and if the time comes Whitman fire will be able to administer vaccinations.
The criteria and information is all pending decisions through the State, which has not been currently established.