DFEMS stands pat: Get vaccinated

The Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services is putting its foot down in requiring all its personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19, saying those who continue to refuse to be vaccinated will “face adverse action.”

This comes soon after 23 DFEMS firefighters refused to be inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine, citing unknown medical risks from taking it as well as arguing that they should be given a choice in the matter without putting their jobs at risk.

In a statement yesterday, DFEMS Commissioner Dennis Mendiola said the governor’s directive mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for government employees was reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General and is intended to safeguard the community by mitigating the risk of contracting and transmitting the COVID-19 virus.

He said the decision to make the vaccination mandatory is compliant with the Governor’s Directive 2021-002 and that there will be special treatment or no exemption “other than what is outlined in the directive.”

“As the commissioner of Fire and EMS, it is my responsibility to ensure that the department renders essential services to our community in a safe and efficient manner while at the same time ensuring that firefighters and EMT alike, are protected. The vaccine is the solution, in addition to the proper protective equipment mandated for their protection,” Mendiola said.

He said the original number of 23 firefighters who were refusing to be vaccinated has now dropped to 11 after a meeting last Friday, March 19, 2021. He said most “were deceived by the intent of this movement while others were simply trying to see if there was any way out of vaccinating.”

Of the 23 personnel, he said 12 have agreed to be vaccinated, while the remaining 11 personnel will be facing adverse action for failure to comply. 

“I am disappointed that these drastic measures have to be taken to ensure compliance when, in fact, officers that have been sworn in as well as first responders should take the initiative themselves to ensure that the people they serve are not in harm’s way. I have given the employees much time to think about their course of action and make a decision.”

He reminded that when one first responder became a person under investigation, it caused a panic throughout the community. “This hampered our ability to execute our duties. Any time the department responds to 911 calls, the question of whether or not the responders are carriers of the virus is pondered.

During a state of health emergency such as a pandemic, cooperation and compliance are the key to get through the crisis. “If we allow anyone to violate this directive, we risk putting other innocent people in harm’s way, and that goes against our duties as first responders,” he added.

This comes soon after the DFEMS firefighters created a petition, via Goggle Documents, in which they sought the public’s support to give them the choice to take the vaccine without worrying about losing their job. Should they be granted the choice of getting the vaccine, they promised to follow all strict protocols to ensure the safety of the community by wearing proper personal protective equipment, and other safety measures.

Mendiola pointed out, though, that even with those mitigation in place, there is still a possibility to contract the virus.

The firefighters argued in their petition that because Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has repeated that the CNMI is “the safest place in the U.S,” they question why the directive is being forced on them.

“We are in a position to choose between keeping our jobs that help us to support and feed our families or lose 10-20+ years of selfless service for simply refusing a vaccine that raises many uncertainties. Worldwide, we still do not know the possible long-term effects this rushed vaccine may cause to our health,” said the firefighters.

The firefighters said that they knew the risk of COVID-19 since the pandemic started in March 2020 and they have accepted it while continuing their everyday responsibilities.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says that equal employment opportunity laws “do not interfere with or prevent employers from following the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] or other federal, state, and local public health authorities’ guidance and suggestions.” However, there are exceptions that employers must consider before implementing a mandatory vaccination program. This includes having strong religious beliefs or having a medical condition.