Hundreds of St. Louis area children will be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Christmas, thanks to a vaccine clinic held by Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri (PFEM) Local 2665 members employed by the Pattonville Fire District.
“I am very proud of the efforts by my home local, the PFEM, and the Pattonville Fire District to keep their communities safe during the ongoing pandemic,” says 2nd District Vice President Mark Woolbright. “I am especially proud of the time they took to make the younger ones feel more at ease.”
The Local 2665 members have hosted clinics since the vaccines became readily available to the public. After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11, the local decided to do another clinic specifically for that age group.
“We wanted to reduce any fear or anxiety the kids might be having about getting a shot, so we partnered with the SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital to create a less scary, more kid-friendly environment,” says Kevin Stuhlman, a Local 2665 member. “To do that, we put one of our fire trucks at the entrance and brought in some carnival games.”
“Because of their proactive approach, our Pattonville members have administered more than 30,000 COVID-19 vaccines to the residents of their community,” says Local 2665 President Dennis Murray. “They have gone above and beyond to help others.”
When the kids arrived at Pattonville High School, they were greeted by Local 2665 members who explained that they must get their shots before playing the games. Parents were also given their booster doses of vaccine which allowed entire families to be fully protected against COVID-19 prior to the holiday season.
