HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-31; Vaccination for Fire Department EMS)rarsonnel; Calderwood, MichaelTo the members of the:
ITY COUNCIL
Date oDCA ~ CC i/'
CM_. _L_DCM (3) V
Council Memorandum
Dec.31,2020
To:
From:
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Michael Calderwood, Fire Chief
Via:
Re:
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager (&
Vaccination for Fire Department EMS)rarsonnel
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID #2020277
This memorandum provides information related to the tiered approach being implemented to
provide COVID-19 vaccinations and the current COVID-19 vaccination efforts being undertaken
by the Fire Department.
Currently, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State of California Department
of Public Health provide guidance for the distribution of vaccines. The San Diego County Health
and Human Services Administration (HHSA) retains control of vaccine allocation at the local level.
The guidance that is being implemented is built in a tiered system that is aimed first at providing
vaccines to the most critical and at-risk members of the community. The tier currently being
implemented is referred to as "Tier 1A" and represents the first vaccines administered outside of
clinical trials under an Emergency Use Authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
The Carlsbad Fire Department is current engaging with stakeholders around the region in order to
ensure all eligible personnel are offered the vaccine at the earliest opportunity. As of Dec. 28, 2020,
Fire Department personnel began receiving vaccines via San Diego County clinics established at
Rady Children's Hospital and San Diego County Public Health offices, both in the city of San Diego.
As part of a countywide effort, the Carlsbad Fire Department has been providing leadership and
staffing for Operation Collaboration to support an ongoing vaccine distribution effort, as
described in the attached announcement. This initiative is being operated using the incident
command structure and deployment follows a unified command model implementing HHSA
vaccination guidelines. This operation will become the preferred method of vaccinating and
tracking emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and first responders. In preparation for
this effort, all fire department personnel received training and orientation on vaccines and
supporting science. The vaccines that are currently available require two doses administered
21 or 28 days apart (depending on the manufacturer). Vaccinations will continue throughout the
month of January. Currently, 82% of Carlsbad Fire Department EMS personnel have expressed
intent to be vaccinated. It is anticipated that all members that are eligible and elect to receive
vaccination will be vaccinated by the end of January.
Fire Department
Safety Center 2560 Orion Way I Carlsbad, CA 92010 I 760-931-2141 t
Council Memo -COVID Vaccination for Fire Department EMS personnel
Dec. 31, 2020
Page 2
The Carlsbad Fire Department will track vaccinated personnel and provide progress updates on
the EMS personnel vaccination initiative. Fire Department staff will also monitor vaccination
progress and begin to develop operational strategies to manage and accommodate personnel
who decline vaccination. Lessons learned throughout the Tier lA vaccination effort will be
compiled and implemented in future vaccination efforts for personnel in subsequent vaccination
Tiers.
Attachment: A. Announcement of Operation Collaboration
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager
Kristina Ray, Communication and Engagement Director
ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPERATION COLLABORATION
Fire Personnel of San Diego County:
Fire agencies across San Diego County have played an active role throughout
the COVID-19 pandemic, and we remain engaged as the County begins the
COVID-19 vaccination process. San Diego County Fire has been working
diligently alongside San Diego County HHSA and our partnering fire agencies on
a vaccination plan for EMT and Paramedic personnel. The plan has been
approved through San Diego County HHSA and is now underway.
Operation Collaboration brings together multiple agencies, similar to any
other incident. Chief Mecham and Chief Calderwood serve as the Policy Group,
and Unified Commanders are Chief Barron, Chief l<remensky and Chief Phillips.
Vaccination sites, also known as PODs (Points of Distribution), are being
utilized to meet the need for fire agencies throughout San Diego County.
Vaccine distribution/administration begins December 30th, with one POD
staffed per day. This first week, the POD will rotate between San Marcos and
CAL FIRE Monte Vista Headquarters.
The first two days of the initial rollout will take place at Monte Vista
Headquarters and are designed to test and refine the operation. Once the
process outlined above is tested and running smoothly, additional PODs will be
established.
We are proud of the collaboration between our local fire and health agencies,
and our hope is that employees take advantage of the opportunity to be
vaccinated for COVID-19. We appreciate the hard work of everyone involved in
making this happen -including those assigned to the COVID-19 response and
those working behind assigned personnel to maintain staffing levels around the
county.
Additional information regarding vaccination locations and scheduling will be
forthcoming.
Thank you.
INCIDENT COMMAND-OPERATION COLLABORATION
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Alpine FPO
Borrego Springs
FD
Carlsbad FD
Cleveland NF
Deer Springs FPO
Del Mar FD
Encinitas FD
Escondido FD
La Jolla
Reservation FD
Lakeside FPO
Mercy
Ambulance
North County FPO
Oceanside FD
Pala Reservation
FD
Pauma
Reservation FD
Ramona FPD
Rancho Santa Fe
FPD
Rincon
Reservation FD
San Marcos FD
San Miguel FPD
San Pasqual
Reservation FD
Santee FD
Solana Beach FD
Valley Center FPD
Vista FD