North Shore Rescue members are breathing a little easier now that team members are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations.
The rescue volunteers became eligible along with other front-line first responders in the latest changes in the vaccine rollout.
“We've been patiently waiting and we're pretty happy to see that,” said Mike Danks, North Shore Rescue team leader. “I know a lot of our members jumped on that right away.”
Danks said he was not aware of any cases of his team members being exposed to COVID-19 while on a call, but it still comes as a relief. North Shore Rescue put in their busiest year ever in 2020 as the pandemic sent throngs of people to the trails for recreation, and 2021 is shaping up to be even busier.
“I think it only makes a lot of sense, because we are in tight quarters, especially when we're responding by air,” he said.
Despite the team members lining up for their shots, Danks said it won’t change anything in the way they respond to calls or in their PPE protocols.
“It's basically just giving us another layer of protection,” he said.
