Milford First Responders May Get COVID-19 Vaccine In January

MILFORD, MA — Milford and four other local towns are working together to get coronavirus vaccines for first responders including police, firefighters and paramedics, the Board of Health said Wednesday.

Milford, Millis, Bellingham, Franklin and Medway have put in a joint application through the state Department of Public Health for the vaccine. If it's approved, Milford first responders could start getting vaccinated as soon as Jan. 4, according to the Board of Health.

Like medical professionals, first responders are at high risk of contracting coronavirus. According to the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts union, 637 firefighters were in quarantine as of Tuesday, the highest since the pandemic began in the state.

Massachusetts is taking a three-phase approach to distributing the vaccine. The first phase includes medical professionals and healthcare workers and people who live in senior and congregate care facilities. Phase two, which begins in February, will include anyone over 65, front line workers and people with comorbidities. The general population will begin receiving the vaccine likely starting in April, according to the state's plan.

Two vaccines have been approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration so far: one by Pfizer for anyone over age 16, and one from Cambridge-based Moderna, which is suitable for anyone over age 18.

The vaccine is rolling out as towns like Milford, Bellingham, Franklin, Medway and Millis are seeing increasing cases. All five towns are on the state's high-risk list for coronavirus spread. Milford held its first town-sponsored pop-up testing event on Friday, and almost 250 residents got tested, according to the Board of Health.