By EMS1 Staff
SHALIMAR, Fla. — A Florida EMS agency was approved to administer the hepatitis A vaccine after 19 new cases were recorded in the state last week.
WKRG.com reported that Okaloosa County Commissioners approved the request for EMS providers to assist the Okaloosa County Health Department in providing immunizations for the disease.
“Hepatitis A has been a situation in the state of Florida, especially further south,” Christopher Saul, the county’s PIO, said. “We’re just getting ahead of the 8-ball, we’re getting ahead of the curve and making sure that we’re keeping everybody as safe as possible.”
Saul said their goal is to combat the virus and keep it from spreading throughout the area.
“We’re getting to use our paramedics’ and EMTs’ very specific skill set to help the people in Okaloosa county who pay the taxes and make sure that they’re all safe,” he said.