Excerpts from Chicago.cbslocal.com:
There were worries late Thursday that the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate could be creating safety concerns with the Chicago Fire Department. There has been a lot of attention on the fight by the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police over the city’s vaccine mandate. But the city is facing another lawsuit – brought by firefighters and workers with the Chicago Department of Water Management. The fight is set to end up in federal court on Friday.
Twenty eight Chicago firefighters and paramedics are sitting out without pay for not complying with vaccine rules. The CFD is moving paramedics from fire engines to the ambulances. What that does is downgrade care available on fire trucks. Engine companies with the highest level of care are certified to provide Advanced Life Support. That means one paramedic is on board, with just about everything found in an ambulance. But because the fire department is being forced to backfill, the Union says six companies on Monday and three Wednesday could only provide Basic Life Support, with no paramedic.
In a statement, the Chicago Fire Department said that downgrading is not an uncommon occurrence and that no fire or ambulance companies have been put out of service or limited service due to personnel issues. But the union disagrees.
The firefighters’ union president said he discussed this issue with Mayor Lori Lightfoot briefly on Friday, stressing something has to change. He plans to continue those talks Friday at a special city council meeting addressing the vaccine mandate.
