Gov. Gavin Newsom set a goal to vaccinate one million people across California by the end of next week. This week, firefighters in Northern California started getting their shots. For one Davis firefighter, this was a monumental moment after a nearly year-long battle against COVID-19 and its lingering effects. Right when the pandemic hit, Luis Parrilla was riding high. As a fire captain, he was a leader on the front lines doing what he loved. “I was the one going in to make sure that my crew was good and healthy,” Parrilla said. “I was definitely shocked that it really, it got me.”Luis was sidelined. He contracted the novel coronavirus in March and ended up in the hospital, afraid he was going to lose his life. For six months after, he had trouble breathing and experienced rapid heartbeat. Just last month, he underwent hernia surgery, in part he said because of all the coughing from COVID-19. He said he kept testing positive for the virus for seven months. “Man, in a couple months, it’ll be almost a year that I’ve been gone away from the line,” he said.But this week, an uplifting moment. Now feeling better, Luis got his COVID-19 vaccine through the Yolo County Health Department. “Kind of emotional for me because I survived this COVID where it could have been a different situation. I could have been dead,” he said. “I have a vaccine that protects not only the community but also my guys and my gals at the firehouse.”Now vaccinated and recovering from surgery, Luis said he hopes he is close to the finish line so he can return to the front line. “I can’t wait. I miss my crew. Working for the City of Davis is an amazing place,” he said. “The doctor says you go back to work and that’s going to be the, probably one of the best days of my life.”
DAVIS, Calif. —
Gov. Gavin Newsom set a goal to vaccinate one million people across California by the end of next week. This week, firefighters in Northern California started getting their shots.
For one Davis firefighter, this was a monumental moment after a nearly year-long battle against COVID-19 and its lingering effects.
Right when the pandemic hit, Luis Parrilla was riding high. As a fire captain, he was a leader on the front lines doing what he loved.
“I was the one going in to make sure that my crew was good and healthy,” Parrilla said. “I was definitely shocked that it really, it got me.”
Luis was sidelined. He contracted the novel coronavirus in March and ended up in the hospital, afraid he was going to lose his life. For six months after, he had trouble breathing and experienced rapid heartbeat. Just last month, he underwent hernia surgery, in part he said because of all the coughing from COVID-19. He said he kept testing positive for the virus for seven months.
“Man, in a couple months, it’ll be almost a year that I’ve been gone away from the line,” he said.
But this week, an uplifting moment. Now feeling better, Luis got his COVID-19 vaccine through the Yolo County Health Department.
“Kind of emotional for me because I survived this COVID where it could have been a different situation. I could have been dead,” he said. “I have a vaccine that protects not only the community but also my guys and my gals at the firehouse.”
Now vaccinated and recovering from surgery, Luis said he hopes he is close to the finish line so he can return to the front line.
“I can’t wait. I miss my crew. Working for the City of Davis is an amazing place,” he said. “The doctor says you go back to work and that’s going to be the, probably one of the best days of my life.”