Whatcom doctor says those choosing not to get vaccinated 'playing with fire'

Many of Whatcom County’s front-line workers are getting vaccinated at higher rates than the general population as part of their effort to end the new coronavirus pandemic, according to information provided to The Bellingham Herald by public- and private-sector officials.

Firefighters, grocery workers, hospital staff, law-enforcement officers and public-school employees all are rolling up their sleeves, officials from those organizations told The Herald.

“We’re vaccinated so that we protect the people we encounter on the job,” said Chief Bill Hewett of the Bellingham Fire Department.