sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz
Alpena Fire Chief Bill Forbush, left, gets a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine today
ALPENA Local first responders received the coronavirus vaccine at the Alpena Public Safety building today as local public health officials announced three more Northeast Michiganders had died after being infected.
After months of responding to health emergencies during the pandemic and worrying about their own wellbeing, many emergency medical personnel will now have the added protection they need while helping others.
Employees are not mandated to get the vaccine.
During the early weeks of the pandemic this spring, anxiety was high because of all of the unknowns about the virus and a lack of personal protection gear, firefighter and paramedic Chris Morrison said.