Emergency Medical Service workers received the first dose of their coronavirus vaccines today at Randall's Island.

Mayor Bill de Blasio says that EMS workers have been health care heroes during the pandemic.

A total of 12 FDNY EMS members have died from the coronavirus, including one Emergency Medical Technician just yesterday.

De Blasio announced the death of Evelyn Ford, who has served the city for 27 years.

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro says 6,000 of the 17,000 members of the department have had coronavirus within the last nine months. He says 600 members are out on medical leave because of coronavirus now.

Nigro says the plan is to vaccinate 450 EMS members a day at three different locations.

"It's going to take quite a while, but I am very pleased today that members will get vaccinated," Nigro says. "This will continue throughout the next few weeks. As more vaccine arrives and more becomes available to us, we hope to have our entire department and staff vaccinated at some point."

The commissioner says it is not a requirement for them to get vaccinated, but is strongly recommended.

Firefighters will be able to get their coronavirus vaccine by Tuesday.