COVID-19 is the leading cause of death for first responders, but many still aren't vaccinated

Even though many first responders are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, vaccination rates among them are lagging. The Associates Press reports that first responders are some of the most hesitant to get the vaccine, despite rising death rates.

NC firefighter and wife die after battle with COVID-19, leaving behind 4 kids

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, more than 200 officers have died from coronavirus since 2021. Deaths among officers have risen across the nation throughout 2021, even though coronavirus vaccines have been available for first responders since the beginning of the year.The National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund reports that more officers have died from coronavirus than than firearm and traffic-related incidents combined. Just in the past few weeks, two North Carolina officers were reported dead from COVID-19.

WRAL found that the Raleigh police and fire departments report vaccination rates on par with Wake County, 68% and 66% respectively. Wake County Sheriff's Office has a slightly lower percentage of employees vaccinated at 62%, while the Durham County Sheriff's Office has more than 90% of its staff vaccinated.

Vaccination rates among local first responders vary widely by location. Nash County EMS reported a vaccinate rate of 47%, while Wake County EMS has one at 90%. Also in Nash County, less than half of all school resource officers, sheriff's deputies and emergency medical responders are vaccinated.

"It felt a little safer coming to work, then going home and visiting family," said Avery Brown, an EMS supervisor in Wake County, of being vaccinated. "Every call could be a potential exposure or COVID patient."

Brown is hopeful more agencies take the lead from Wake County's EMS and their high vaccination rate.

"We play an integral role in helping sick people and getting them better and should be leading the charge in stopping the spread," Brown said.

Gov. Roy Cooper has mandated coronavirus vaccinations for state employees. If employees don't get the vaccine, they will be required to wear a mask and get tested weekly.

"We are looking at what the consequences will be for employees that do not do that. But we are using this time to convince people that this is something that they should do," Gov. Cooper said, adding that the number of vaccinated employees continues to increase.

On Tuesday Cooper announced that the state is working on a plan to require that all state troopers working with the public be vaccinated. As of Tuesday, 56% of all N.C. Highway Patrol troopers were vaccinated. Those numbers include staff working all across North Carolina for the Department of Public Safety.

Cooper said Todd Ishee, the North Carolina DPI Commissioner of Prisons is working to try and get employees who work in correctional centers vaccinated.

"Commissioner Todd is working hard on trying to incentivize not only inmates that are there but correction employees," he said on Tuesday. "It is probably one of the most important areas where we are trying to increase vaccinations, so they are working on an incentive plan."