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Firefighters are a critical component of the emergency response system and therefore a potential target for organizations seeking to disrupt this system. Terrorist organizations may deliberately attack firefighters to both increase the devastation of an attack and impair the affected community's ability to respond to an attack. We performed a focused search of the Global Terrorism Database to identify terrorist attacks against firefighters worldwide. The database includes incidents from 1970 through 2019, with a total of 201,183 entries. These entries were searched for incidents involving firefighters or fire trucks. We analyzed trends in the number of incidents occurring per year, regions of the world impacted, methods employed, and number of casualties inflicted. A total of 42 attacks involving firefighters were identified in the Global Terrorism Database resulting in 26 deaths and 95 wounded. Of the 42 attacks, 12 (28.6%) were secondary attacks, where firefighters responding to an initial attack were themselves targeted. The most common method for both primary and secondary attacks was the use of a bomb or explosive. Although attacks against firefighters are uncommon, they highlight both the strategic value and vulnerability of firefighters to terrorist attacks. Increased efforts must be made to protect firefighters from future terrorist attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccinators fulfill an important role in a nation's public health by reducing the burden of disease on the population. Understanding patterns of attack employed against vaccinators is important to determine how to protect them. We conducted a search of the Global Terrorism Database for terrorist attacks against vaccinators that occurred between the years 1970 and 2018. Using the search terms "hospital," "healthcare," "clinic," "doctor," "nurses," "vaccinators," and "vaccinations," 2,322 healthcare-related entries were identified. We then manually searched the dataset for incidents related to attacks on vaccinators, which resulted in the identification of 133 attacks against vaccinators. The majority (128 out of 133) of attacks occurred during or after 2010. Every attack except one has occurred in the Middle East, South Asia, or sub-Saharan Africa. Pakistan has seen the most attacks against vaccinators, with 112 incidents recorded. Vaccinators continue to be vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Protection of healthcare personnel during mass vaccination efforts is critical so that they can continue their lifesaving mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]