North Shore Legislators Push Vaccine For Funeral Workers
SALEM, MA — As advocates for different professions vie for the front of the line when it comes to coronavirus vaccines over the next few weeks and months, those who work in the funeral industry got a boost from a large group of state legislators this week.
Rep. Sally Kerans (D-Danvers), Rep. Paul Tucker (D-Salem), Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) and Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) signed a petition to Gov. Charlie Baker to have those in the funeral industry moved to phase 1 of the vaccination rollout in the state.
Funeral workers are currently in phase 2 of the rollout after initially being placed in phase 3.
Funeral workers could begin receiving vaccines within weeks if they are moved up to phase 1.
"Funeral service workers and directors function on a regular basis in the same health care settings as health care workers," the letter argued. "It is funeral directors and workers who must directly handle the removal of decedents. This vital function requires these workers to enter hospitals, nursing homes, hospice settings and private residences, many of them congregate. This is why 33 other states have placed funeral home directors and workers in the same category for vaccination as other health care workers.
"Ensuring that these workers remain healthy is essential to averting another public health crisis that would arise as a result of a shortage of personnel trained and authorized to remove and handle the deceased."
The North Shore delegation was part of 118 legislators signing on to the petition.
This article originally appeared on the Salem Patch
