DAPHNE – With many Daphne employees still not vaccinated against COVID-19, city officials are urging workers and others to get the inoculations following the death of city firefighter from the virus.
At the meeting of the Daphne City Council on Monday, Aug. 16, Fire Chief Leann Tacon said that Jeremy McKissack, who had served as a firefighter in Bay Minette and Daphne, had died from COVID-19 and other health problems.
Councilwoman Angie Phillips said McKissack’s death was a reminder that the virus is hitting many families in the area.
“My heart and my prayers go out to our first responders, our health care workers, the families of those who have lost a loved one due to COVID,” Phillips said. “We experienced that early Saturday morning. It’s heart-wrenching. It’s heart-breaking. And just to be compassionate in this time of this pandemic. It’s very real. It’s happening. I feel like we are at a point right now of what we feared when we shut down last year.”
Phillips said the increase in cases is having a toll of doctors and nurses as well as those with the disease.
“What I’m seeing and hearing are just completely exhausted health care workers,” Phillips said. “It’s almost as if they’re becoming desensitized and numb to hearing that a 31-year-old passed away, a 23-year-old passed away.”
Mayor Robin LeJeune said Daphne is working to increase the number of vaccinated employees and encouraging everyone to be protected against COVID-19.
“With COVID as was mentioned, It is alarming that our employee number is low,” LeJeune said. “We are doing things to try to incentivize our employees to go out and get vaccinated. We hope they do. I’m pretty sure City Hall has a very high vaccination rate, probably 90 to 95 percent. So, we are working very diligently trying to get them to go out and try to choose. We’ve had some vaccinations here at City Hall for our employees and we look to do more in the future.”
The mayor said reports from Thomas Hospital in Fairhope were that most patients being admitted with COVID-19 are not vaccinated.
“Those in the hospital with COVID are 92 percent unvaccinated,” LeJeune said. “So, we do ask if you haven’t gotten vaccinated to please go out and get vaccinated. We’ve lost quite a few.”
Councilman Joel Coleman said he understood that some people have concerns about the vaccine, but the dangers of COVID-19 are much worse than possible consequences of vaccine side effects.
“I understand the arguments against getting the vaccine,” Coleman said. “However, if you’re right in your arguments, OK, it’s maybe something way down the road, but if you’re wrong, you might could pay with your life now. And I would just say weigh that out and, if you see fit, please get the vaccine.”
