'A Huge Thing': Vaccine Day For Many North Shore First Responders

MARBLEHEAD, MA – For nearly 11 months, North Shore first responders have arrived at calls facing a risk that goes beyond that which they accept whenever they respond to a public request for help.

On Monday, several dozen first responders from area cities and towns arrived in shifts at the Marblehead Council on Aging for a shot at taking down that risk of contracting the coronavirus.

Salem Police Capt. Fred Ryan was one of the officers who received the first of the Moderna vaccine doses Monday morning at the Marblehead Council on Aging, joining Salem Acting Chief Dennis King, Marblehead Chief Robert Picariello and Swampscott Chief Ronald Madigan, all of whom Ryan said got the shot in Marblehead, while Peabody Police Chief Thomas Griffin got the shot at Peabody High School site.

Beverly Chief John LeLacheur said his department is scheduled to begin vaccinations at the Massachusetts Task Force site in Beverly on Friday.

"There are definitely a lot of positives about it," Ryan told Patch Monday afternoon. "It a huge thing in this day and age. It's part of getting into a new year and hoping things will be getting better."

Chief Griffin was pleased to receive his first dose of the COVID vaccine and he encourages everyone to do the same when their turn comes up to help protect them and their loved ones and prevent the spread of the virus in our community. pic.twitter.com/AdINcRT9Yo
— Peabody Police (@PeabodyPolice) January 11, 2021

The state began vaccinations of front line health care workers last month following the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's emergency authorization of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. On Dec. 28, vaccinations became available to many senior living facility residents and staff with Gov. Charlie Baker saying last week that Monday was the day that would be expanded to include 45,000 police, fire, emergency personnel and public health workers, such as school nurses across the state.

Danvers also posted a photo of Danvers Public Health Nurse Judith Ryan administering the shot to Fire Chief Robert Amerault on Monday.

Today, first responders across the state, including Danvers, started receiving COVID vaccinations. Shown here is @DanversFireDept Chief Bob Amerault receiving his shot by Danvers Public Health Nurse Judith Ryan. #danversma #COVIDvaccine #COVID #firstresponders pic.twitter.com/yVWeCDoUlg
— Town of Danvers (@TownofDanvers) January 11, 2021

Ryan said the process went smoothly with first responders able to register ahead of time for a vaccination shot window.

"It was very well-organized," he said. "Very squared away. We got the notification last week and we were able to log in and get the appointment time. That was huge because that kept the line down and kept the traffic down."

Salem first responders have the option of going to either the Marblehead and Beverly sites.

⁦@SalemSchoolsk12⁩ director of nursing and health services Dr. Charlene Moske-Weber receiving her COVID-19 vaccine today!!! Our superhero nurses will be receiving their vaccines throughout the week! pic.twitter.com/K3XBg8hA0x
— Steve Zrike (@SzrikeSPS) January 11, 2021

While some police and fire unions publicly expressed frustration late last month about mthe lack of clarification where first responders would fit into the vaccine pecking order, Ryan said Salem Public Health Agent Dave Greenbaum has kept the department up to date on what to expect and when to expect it.

"I don't think there were any gaps in communication here," Ryan said. "We knew what it was going to be. It turned out to be right on schedule.

"It's been a trying time for all of us. But this is a step in the right direction."

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Ryan said that while the vaccine is a very important step to fully protecting officers, and eventually bringing an end to the pandemic, the city has gotten smarter in its response amid the health crisis over the past 11 months.

"It was new ground for everyone involved," he said. "Our Board of Health has been good giving us notifications of different outbreaks and things like that, while obviously being careful of (medical privacy) rules. But when we go to calls, we know what we're getting into in terms of whether it is a place (with a lot of infection). At the beginning, maybe that wasn't the case."

Ryan said those vaccinated today were notified when they should return for the second Moderna shot in 28 days.

"It takes a little load off," he said, noting he was told it takes between 10 and 14 days for the initial dose to start having limited protection. "We are still going to be wearing our masks to protect our mothers and fathers, and children, when we go home.

"But it's something that definitely helps."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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