Maine ski patrollers ask governor to re-prioritize them in coronavirus vaccine rollout
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Updated: 5:28 PM EST Feb 16, 2021
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Updated: 5:28 PM EST Feb 16, 2021
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OUT IN THE COLD AFTER A CHANGE OF PRIORITY FROM THE STATE. 5:22 THERE IS DIRECT EXPOSURE FOR THESE FIRST RESPONDERS OUT ON THE HILL DIRK GOUWENS WITH THE SKI MAINE ASSOCIATION SAYS THIS PHOTO OF AN INJURED SKIIER THIS WEEKEND AT SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN SHOWS THE WORK OF A SKI PATROLLER IN MAINE. 2:23 SKI PATROL IS IDENTIFIED IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS PEOPLE LIKE EMTS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND NURSES AND DOCTORS FIRST RESPONDERS LIKE POLICE, EMS AND FIRE ARE CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE, AND UP UNTIL LAST WEEK MORE THAN 300 SKI PATROLLERS WERE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19, LEAVING 125 WAITING. 50 WERE BOOKED FOR APPOINTMENTS TOMORROW AT FRANKLIN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN FARMINGTON: 4:22 THOSE APPOINTMENTS HAVE ALL BEEN CANCELLED LAST WEEK GOUWENS SAYS PATROL MEMBERS LEARNED THEY WOULD NO LONGER GET PRIORITY. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SAYS THE DECISION WAS REVERSED BECAUSE OF A LIMITED VACCINE SUPPLY, AND LOW RISK OF TRANSMISSION AMONG SKI PATROL. SOMETHING THAT GOUWENS DISAGREES WITH. 5:28 WHAT HAPPENS IF A PATROLLER HAS TO PERFORM CPR DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE INDOORS OR OUTDOORS YOU ARE GETTING DIRECT EXPOSURE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS COVID GOWENS SAYS NEIGHBORING STATES LIKE VT AND NH HAVE VACCINATED THEIR SKI PATROL AND THIS FINAL GROUP OF 125 PEOPLE ESPECIALLY AS THE SKI SEASON KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR THIS WEEK. 6:48 WE ARE JUST SO FAR BEHIND WHAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS DOING IT'S JUST UNFAIR AND DANGEROUS FOR OUR SKI PATROLLERS TO BE OUT THERE WITHOUT PROTECTION