55% of NYC firefighters would refuse to get COVID-19 vaccine

[shinobi602]

More from the twilight zone:

Just weeks before a COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be made available to U.S. medical workers and first responders, an internal survey taken by members of the country's largest fire department shows that more than 50% say they would not take it, mirroring what appears to be a nationwide hesitancy to get the shot.

The survey of 2,000 members of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) showed that 55% of participants said they would not bother to get inoculated.

Andrew Ansbro, the president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said the results of the survey are concerning in light of 200 members of the fire department currently being out sick with coronavirus.

"As a union, we are encouraging our members to get the vaccine, but we are defending that right to make that choice," Ansbro said at a news conference Sunday.

The FDNY has a total of nearly 11,000 uniformed employees, and Anbro said the survey results are likely indicative of the overall attitude among members of the department.

He said the reluctance among FDNY members to get the vaccine is generally fueled by a lack of information.

"The reasons for that are probably the same reasons everyone else doesn't want it: It is a new vaccine, they don't have enough information," Ansbro said.

Click to shrink...

Over half of NYC firefighters would refuse COVID-19 vaccine, survey finds

More than 50% of New York City firefighters said in a survey that they would not take a COVID-19 vaccine.

abcnews.go.com

 

[Dullahan]

55% of NYC firefighters are stupid fucking dumbasses.

 

[CHC]

Anecdotally, I just had to call the FDNY the other day for a fume smell in my apartment. Not only were they completely unhelpful, telling me that the black smoke and diesel smell invading invading my apartment and causing my lightheadedness was from my neighbor cooking (???), they were also happy to pile into my apartment shoulder to shoulder with no masks on.

 

[Pancracio17]

That sucks, but as a silver lining, not everyone needs to get the vaccine for it effectively work I guess.

 

[The Albatross]

why

 

[RKasa]

And firefighters are supposed to be "heroes". Yeah, how heroic of them -_-;

 

[Lobster Roll]

To counter this, I'm going to light my house on fire and breathe in all the smoke. Don't have enough information on smoke inhalation to avoid it. My body, my freedom. Rock, flag, and eagleeeeeeeeee

 

[entremet]

Not surprised.

That sucks, but as a silver lining, not everyone needs to get the vaccine for it effectively work I guess.

Click to shrink...

Helps with herd immunity. Moreover, protects those who can't access healthcare services.

 

[DeltaRed]

I could install a smoke alarm but I want more information first.

 

[Ojli]

55% that are reluctant to save lives sounds worrying

 

[HeySeuss]

I would imagine similar numbers across most job classifications. People seem oddly hesitant to take the vaccine. Even here on era that probably isn't far off of a percentage.

 

[red731]

wow

 

[just_myles]

To counter this, I'm going to light my house on fire and breathe in all the smoke. Don't have enough information on smoke inhalation to avoid it. My body, my freedom. Rock, flag, and eagleeeeeeeeee

Click to shrink...

Perfect please send that to their union.

 

[Joni]

I hope we start forbidding things like travelling without being vaccinated once everyone had the chance to get one. But also, the fewer people want the vaccine, the faster I'll have mine.

I could install a smoke alarm but I want more information first.

Click to shrink...

I installed a smoke alarm and one week later I had a fire in my house. I never had fires before. The smoke alarm causes fires.

 

[Chopchop]

Should vaccine trial data be publicized more (with personal information removed) to help address these fears? I feel like a lot of people think the vaccine is rushed or not tested properly, when it's actually going through the same testing process as everything else.

It seems to be the main sticking point for people, even for people on this forum.

 

[Joni]

Should vaccine trial data be publicized more (with personal information removed) to help address these fears? I feel like a lot of people think the vaccine is rushed or not tested properly, when it's actually going through the same testing process as everything else.

It seems to be the main sticking point for people, even for people on this forum.

Click to shrink...

No, but it might need to be explained why it usually takes so long and what fat was cut to speed up the development now. Ie no red tape, more money, more manpower.

 

[Lobster Roll]

Should vaccine trial data be publicized more (with personal information removed) to help address these fears? I feel like a lot of people think the vaccine is rushed or not tested properly, when it's actually going through the same testing process as everything else.

It seems to be the main sticking point for people, even for people on this forum.

Click to shrink...

I think most people just dig their heels in and remain as obstinate as possible in the face of information once they choose that path. The same people refusing vaccines would also pop a prescribed painkiller from a doctor without thought, but a vaccine is where they stop trusting science.

 

[Deleted member 437]

why

Click to shrink...

Potential side effects that emerge 5 years later?

 

[davepoobond]

No, but it might need to be explained why it usually takes so long and what fat was cut to speed up the development now. Ie no red tape, more money, more manpower.

Click to shrink...

its easier to be convinced of to not take a vaccine and let other people get sick. it "isn't their problem" and there's no guarantee anyone will understand the points you laid out.

people dont give 2 thoughts about where a vaccine comes from, who makes them, etc. it comes from the doctor and it hurts when they put it in your arm.

 

[Whipwhopper]

To counter this, I'm going to light my house on fire and breathe in all the smoke. Don't have enough information on smoke inhalation to avoid it. My body, my freedom. Rock, flag, and eagleeeeeeeeee

Click to shrink...

Make sure to climb a mountain and sew a flag too

 

[Mivey]

why

Click to shrink...

they like playing with fire

 

[prophetvx]

Should vaccine trial data be publicized more (with personal information removed) to help address these fears? I feel like a lot of people think the vaccine is rushed or not tested properly, when it's actually going through the same testing process as everything else.

It seems to be the main sticking point for people, even for people on this forum.

Click to shrink...

20-30% of people are skeptical of vaccines in general. 10% are flatout anti-vaxxers. Add in the current political climate and speed in which this has been created, it really doesn't matter how you communicate or try to inform people, it will be a major uphill battle getting 50% or more of people willingly taking it.

It's really going to be a situation where a significant portion of society will take the wait and see approach, which will ultimately mean this thing isn't going away in a hurry.

 

[Fuhgeddit]

I know the area around me is genuinely worried about the vaccine for stupid reasons such as thinking that it's just a way for the government to track them (specifically the Democrats).

 

[FTF]

Yeah 40% of the country is stupid so not a surprise unfortunately.

Now if you told me this was about Heath care workers I'd freak the fuck out.

 

[take_marsh]

You're supposed to be like... THE good guys, firefighters. Tsk tsk at something so simple.

Potential side effects that emerge 5 years later?

Click to shrink...

Now that's playing with fire.

 

[LinkStrikesBack]

That sucks, but as a silver lining, not everyone needs to get the vaccine for it effectively work I guess.

Click to shrink...

If only 45% of the population gets the shot, the virus isn't going away.

 

[Deleted member 8752]

Potential side effects that emerge 5 years later?

Click to shrink...

Yep, better to have COVID-19 where there are no known side effects.

/s

 

[Jarrod38]

I know the area around me is genuinely worried about the vaccine for stupid reasons such as thinking that it's just a way for the government to track them (specifically the Democrats).

Click to shrink...

Yep know a few folks like that and still believe Bill Gates and Dr. Fauci are behind this.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

Hundreds of years of scientific and medical progress and it's undone in a decade or two by fuckwits on Facebook.

 

[Lobster Roll]

I know the area around me is genuinely worried about the vaccine for stupid reasons such as thinking that it's just a way for the government to track them (specifically the Democrats).

Click to shrink...

Do they own cell phones?

 

[Lord Moriarty007]

I have some friends who are democrats saying they would not take the vaccine right now. Mostly because of how the government has handled the pandemic, and we have an idiot asshole in office. So take that as you will.

 

[Deleted member 8752]

I have some friends who are democrats saying they would not take the vaccine right now. Mostly because of how the government has handled the pandemic, and we have an idiot asshole in office. So take that as you will.

Click to shrink...

I take it as an ignorant stance.

Listen, if 99.9% of doctors take the vaccine (and they will), I'm taking the vaccine the moment I can.

 

[platocplx]

I have some friends who are democrats saying they would not take the vaccine right now. Mostly because of how the government has handled the pandemic, and we have an idiot asshole in office. So take that as you will.

Click to shrink...

Same. Nobody feels comfortable because of trump.

 

[HiLife]

I still remember when Era users were echoing the same sentiment months ago.

 

[gcubed]

what is any adult vaccination rate? I feel like we would be way worse off if we didn't have long lasting vaccines given during childhood.

 

[alr1ght]

How is the Facebook news crowd talking about the vaccine?

 

[Thunder11]

I still remember when Era users were echoing the same sentiment months ago.

Click to shrink...

There's a ton of hidden antivax sentiment and ignorance here, this place isn't immune

 

[RedOnePunch]

There's a ton of hidden antivax sentiment and ignorance here, this place isn't immune

Click to shrink...

Why so quick to put everyone is a box? Antivax is not the same as this. Given the circumstances of this vaccine, it's at least understandable why people would be hesitant.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

20-30% of people are skeptical of vaccines in general. 10% are flatout anti-vaxxers. Add in the current political climate and speed in which this has been created, it really doesn't matter how you communicate or try to inform people, it will be a major uphill battle getting 50% or more of people willingly taking it.

It's really going to be a situation where a significant portion of society will take the wait and see approach, which will ultimately mean this thing isn't going away in a hurry.

Click to shrink...

Ironically probably the same people protesting against any form of lockdown and asking to be able to live without restrictions.

 

[Deleted member 7051]

It's a shame but it's hardly surprising. Healthy adults simply don't need vaccines for most things so unless you convince them that it will help others so they should take it anyway, a lot won't want it. The only real solution is to give the vaccine to the people who need it most (to prevent most of the deaths) and who are most willing to take it then, when it's proven there's nothing wrong with the vaccine, more people will fall in line.

 

[tobascodagama]

Firefighters are basically cops in terms of culture and politics. I dunno if they were always that way or if it's a post-9/11 thing, but it's well-established by now. Lots of fire stations caught shit this year for flying Blue Lives Matter flags, for instance.

So yeah, this doesn't surprise me at all. They're exactly the kind of people to think that mask requirements are a communist plot or whatever the fuck, so of course they're anti-vaccine.

Should vaccine trial data be publicized more (with personal information removed) to help address these fears?

Click to shrink...

It would help with some peoples' concerns, but I doubt it would matter here, for the cultural reasons I mentioned above.

 

[Deleted member 13101]

You need 75%-85% of the population vaccinated, at the vaccines' success rates of 70-95%, in order to start going back to "normal". IHME's state-by-state breakdown currently shows NYS doesn't have enough "will get the vaccine" polled responses to meet the 75% threshold.

 

[RecRoulette]

I bet that percentage isn't that much different than you'd find on here

 

[shinobi602]

You need 75%-85% of the population vaccinated, at the vaccines' success rates of 70-95%, in order to start going back to "normal". IHME's state-by-state breakdown currently shows NYS doesn't have enough "will get the vaccine" polled responses to meet the 75% threshold.

Click to shrink...

In all honesty it'll likely climb as the vaccine spreads throughout communities and states, word of mouth spreads, family members get it, etc.

 

[Spinluck]

I went to firefighter school in 2016.

Most of them were MAGA.

 

[Grym]

If only 45% of the population gets the shot, the virus isn't going away.

Click to shrink...

It isn't going away anyway until after we start pediatric safety trials. With kids under 12 not getting any form of the vaccines on the horizon, we aren't hitting herd immunity. Pfizer/Moderna/etc. need to get their pediatric trial study plans moving.

 

[RadzPrower]

No, but it might need to be explained why it usually takes so long and what fat was cut to speed up the development now. Ie no red tape, more money, more manpower.

Click to shrink...

Based on what little I know about the mRNA vaccine methods they're using, the main development of the process has been done over the last decade or so. If I understand the process correctly, they're just programming your own cells to manufacture the viral indicators (spike proteins) without the whole virus. This means there's no need to cultivate and harvest and actual viral culture beyond sequencing of the original DNA sequence of the virus.

The COVID-19 vaccine may well be the first of its kind and could revolutionize the vaccine production and development process.

 

[kai3345]

Restrict travel, bar entry, hospital entry, etc. unless you bring proof of vaccination. That will make most people on the fence just bite the bullet and get it out of convenience

 

[ThereAre4Lights]

So they save your life and then potentially infect you through asymptomatic spread, huffing and puffing through your apartment building, great job.

 

[Dogo Mojo]

The right has made everything about this pandemic political from the get go. People on the right refuse the science (and all reason) , and people on the left are skeptical or untrusting of a vaccine made under the Trump administration. All the the bullshit that has taken place over this entire year was always going to end with a lot of people not believing in the validity of the Vaccine.