Northumberland County – County Staff Ponder Vaccine Roll-Out

Pete Fisher
3 years ago
• Categories: City Hall, Local

By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
A number of county staff are participating in work groups looking at facets and options of the vaccine roll-out, and some of the details were shared this week at the Northumberland County Community Health standing committee.

Northumberland Paramedic Chief Susan Brown sits on the committee for vaccine prioritization and sequencing. Among those the committee hopes to immunize early are physicians, nurses, paramedics and fire fighters – professionals working in a first-response capacity.

Brown was happy to report that some of her paramedics helping to immunize residents of a local retirement home got a first dose Saturday when there was a small surplus of vaccines. Seventeen crew members got a first shot of Pfizer or Moderna, and five paramedics to date have had a second shot.

They hope to continue to help provide vaccinations when supplies increase, and Brown especially hopes – through their Community Paramedicine program – that they can see to those seniors who have difficulties with transportation right in their homes.

“We are really excited,” Brown said.

“We want to get out there and help get those shots into arms.”

“We know it’s still frustrating for some of our residents, wondering when they will get their vaccine, and we don’t have those answers yet,” Northumberland Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Moore added.

Warden Bob Crate shared some good news of his own from a close friend whose parents live in a Warkworth nursing home – because he and his wife are care givers, they are getting their shots this week.

“So there’s a beginning, and I am excited,” Crate said.