Neighbors help neighbors. East Pierce Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Russ McCallion sees it every day, and he wants to keep seeing it. He wants folks in East Pierce County to encourage each other to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

“I would hope in small communities or rural areas that people look after one another and keep them safe and support each other by being vaccinated,” he said.

McCallion is a 19-year veteran of East Pierce. The fire district serves Milton, Edgewood, Sumner, Bonney Lake, Lake Tapps and other areas of East Pierce County.

He knows the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone in the area. He also knows it’s not time to let our guards down.

“Our motto is, ‘where compassion and action meet,’” McCallion said. “We don’t care about the politics. We want people to follow the medicine and the science. We’d like people to get vaccinated because it’s the best thing to do.”

‘I just want us to be safe.’

McCallion saw the impacts of COVID-19 early in the pandemic.

“We’ve had close to 20 of our own members who had COVID-19,” McCallion said. “Some became rather seriously ill and had to become hospitalized.”

The firefighters recovered, although slowly. They didn’t catch it at work, McCallion said, but out in the community.

“We’ve had to gear up and wear lots of personal protection equipment,” McCallion said. “It’s made it a lot harder for us to communicate with our patients. But our crews work diligently trying to keep themselves safe and keep good care of patients.”

It all starts with the vaccine.

“I just want us to be safe,” he said. “Getting vaccinated and being there to support each other is important.”

Finding trusted sources of information.

The veteran firefighter hears all sorts of misinformation about COVID-19, and it weighs on him.

“It discourages us sometimes when people say that COVID doesn’t exist,” McCallion said. “Actually, it is pretty bad. And we’ve seen the impacts of it on people.”

McCallion wants people to talk to their doctor if they have doubts about the vaccine and not take what they see on social media as fact.

“Talk to your doctor, talk to other trusted professionals to get your information,” McCallion said. “What can be frustrating is when people tell us they’re getting all their information off Facebook or social media. Not all of that information is bad but some of it is highly suspect.”

In small communities, getting vaccinated helps an elderly or sick neighbor. It helps a grocery worker. It helps McCallion’s team.

“Let’s put the politics aside,” he said. “Lets just focus on being a community and supporting each other.”

Return of a stinky favorite.

Enjoying a sunny day outdoors with friends. Going through a movie theater without thinking twice. These are all things McCallion hopes to see more of as more people get vaccinated.

“Going to a baseball game and not worrying about 5,000 people trying to buy garlic fries at the same place,” he said. “Who knows, maybe you wear the mask for the garlic fries.”

Neighbors help neighbors. He sees it in his fire department and his community. And he sees it as more shots go into arms.

“If we call help, we can work together and move forward,” he said.

Find your dose.

Find your vaccination today at tpchd.org/vaxtothefuture. Everyone 12 and older is eligible. You can register online or just drop in at any clinic and get vaccinated without an appointment.

If you need a ride to an appointment or can’t easily leave your home, we can help! Call us at (253) 649-1412, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week.

Your role to stop the spread of COVID-19 remains critical.

• Wear your mask.
• If you’re sick, stay home.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Get tested if you experience symptoms or were exposed.