EMS Commentary | Journal of Emergency Medical Services

Commentary

Administration and Leadership

Serving Leader

6.15.2021 0

This paper reviews the existing literature regarding theories and values in leadership, specifically servant leadership as it relates to EMS.

We Need to Care for Each Other as Much as We Care for Others

5.21.2021

My Experience As a Black Paramedic

4.29.2021

Take a Step for Self-Care

4.23.2021

Expanding Critical Thinking in EMS Beyond Clinical Thinking

4.13.2021

Webcasts

New 911 Dispatch Center Settles into Old Jail Quarters in Porter...

6.14.2021 0

The photo shows the back of an ambulance.

Telemedicine Framework for EMS and 911

6.10.2021 0

Commentary

A Day in the Life of a NM Flight Paramedic During COVID-19

3.16.2021 0

This commentary follows the work of a critical care flight paramedic in New Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commentary

Vaccine Hesitancy and Mission Alignment in the Emergency Services

3.11.2021 0

ML Marietta writes about why all emergency responders are not "early adopters" to the COVID-19 vaccine and what can be done to fix that.

The Ethics of Perspective: COVID-19 and Community Risk Assessments

3.4.2021

Eight Years Ago, Federal Government Experts Noted that Vaccine Tracking Systems Couldn’t Share Information

2.22.2021

Mars Helicopter Drone Has Implications for EMS

2.18.2021

Vaccination Strategy is Sacrificing Equity

2.12.2021

Rev. Al Sharpton: San Diego (CA) Should Not Switch to Falck

2.5.2021

Opinion: San Diego (CA) Should Switch to Falck

2.5.2021

Safety First or Safety Third: Considering Practitioner Safety in EMS

1.26.2021

Use Difficult Conversations to Provide Better Healthcare

1.19.2021

Coronavirus

In this Dec. 29, 2020, file photo, Pat Moore, with the Chester County, Pa., Health Department, fills a syringe with Moderna COVID-19 vaccine before administering it to emergency medical workers and health care personnel at the Chester County Government Services Center in West Chester, Pa.

Survey to Look at Motivating Factors Behind Vaccination Decisions in EMS

6.15.2021

This Saturday, March 6, 2021 file photo shows vials of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy in Denver.

U.S. Extends Expiration Dates for J&J COVID Vaccine by Six Weeks

6.11.2021

Why do some people get side effects after COVID-19 vaccines? Temporary side effects including headache, fatigue and fever are signs the immune system is revving up -- a normal response to vaccines. And they’re common. “The day after getting these vaccines, I wouldn’t plan anything that was strenuous physical activity,” said Dr. Peter Marks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine chief, who experienced fatigue after his first dose. Here's what’s happening: The immune system has two main arms, and the first kicks in as soon as the body detects a foreign intruder. White blood cells swarm to the site, prompting inflammation that’s responsible for chills, soreness, fatigue and other side effects. This rapid-response step of your immune system tends to wane with age, one reason younger people report side effects more often than older adults. Also, some vaccines simply elicit more reactions than others. That said, everyone reacts differently. If you didn’t feel anything a day or two after either dose, that doesn’t mean the vaccine isn't working. Behind the scenes, the shots also set in motion the second part of your immune system, which will provide the real protection from the virus by producing antibodies. Another nuisance side effect: As the immune system activates, it also sometimes causes temporary swelling in lymph nodes, such as those under the arm. Women are encouraged to schedule routine mammograms ahead of COVID-19 vaccination to avoid a swollen node being mistaken for cancer. Not all side effects are routine. But after hundreds of millions of vaccine doses administered around the world — and intense safety monitoring — few serious risks have been identified. A tiny percentage of people who got vaccines made by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson reported an unusual type of blood clot. Some countries reserved those shots for older adults but regulatory authorities say the benefits of offering them still outweigh the risks. People also occasionally have serious allergic reactions. That's why you're asked to stick around for about 15 minutes after getting any type of COVID-19 vaccine — to ensure any reaction can be promptly treated. Finally, authorities are trying to determine whether temporary heart inflammation that can occur with many types of infections also might be a rare side effect after the mRNA vaccines, the kind made by Pfizer and Moderna. U.S. health officials can't yet tell if there's a link but say they're monitoring a small number of reports, mostly male teens or young adults.

Why Do Some People Get Side Effects after COVID-19 Vaccines?

6.10.2021

In this Saturday, May 15, 2021, file photo, empty vials of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine lie in a box during a vaccine campaign in Ebersberg near Munich, Germany.

Heart Reaction Probed as Possible Rare Vaccine Link in Teens

6.4.2021

Do I need to get tested for COVID-19 if I'm vaccinated?

Do I Need to Get Tested for COVID-19 if I’m Vaccinated?

6.3.2021

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