Inslee Announces Vaccination Requirement for Most State Employees, Private Health Care and Long-Term
In addition to the below information regarding the Governor’s vaccination announcement, please see the attached Proclamation by the Governor Amending Proclamation 20-05, et seq. 21-14 Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement and the attached FAQs on this mandate.
The Governor announced on August 9, the immediate requirement for most state workers, on-site contractors and volunteers, and workers in private health care and long-term care settings to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. This will include those that do business with the state of Washington to include if a contractor goes on a construction site or in state offices. Essentially all contractors that do work with the state will need to be fully vaccinated to do work with the state.
Employees have until October 18, 2021 to be fully vaccinated.
To view the Governor’s press conference click here.
Click below for the COVID-19 Vax Washington and Vax Mandate FAQ:
For your general information, on Monday, August 9 Governor Inslee held a press conference, at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle, in regards to increasing COVID-19 vaccinations in Washington State.
The governor was joined by Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Kaiser Permanente Regional President Susan Mullaney, WA Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah, WA Dept. of Health Deputy Director for COVID Response Lacy Fehrenbach, and Seattle & King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin.
The Governor announced the immediate requirement for most state workers, and on-site contractors and volunteers, and workers in private health care and long-term care settings to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. This will include those that do business with the state of Washington to include if a contractor goes on a construction site or in state offices. Essentially all contractors that do work with the state will need to be fully vaccinated to do work with the state. He further noted that this is a legally binding emergency proclamation by the Governor of the State of Washington.
This effects the 24 state agencies that are part of the governor’s executive Cabinet, which includes the departments of corrections, social and health services, transportation and the Washington State Patrol and others.
This will effect approximately:
- 60,000 state employees
- 400,000 health care professionals
The employees will have until October 18, 2021 to be fully vaccinated. The last vaccination would have to be on October 4 if you are taking Moderna or Pfizer vaccination.
He further noted that cases and hospitalizations are rising drastically – cases have doubled in one week. This is the highest number in Washington State that we have had since the first wave. 95% of recent hospitalization are by people who have not been vaccinated.
This does not apply to state employees of agencies that are controlled by separately elected statewide officials, including staff for the lieutenant governor and attorney general, or K-12 system or Universities, legislative employees, and the judicial branch at this moment.
He further encouraged higher education and other local and state officials to join in vaccination requirements.
The policy in his Executive Order will included limited exemptions from the vaccine requirement that citizens can apply for. They must have legitimate medical or religious reasons for not getting vaccinated.
King County Executive announced that he will be mirroring the states requirements of its 13,500 Executive Branch employees to be vaccinated by mid-October. Currently 80% of their workforce are vaccinated. He noted that many companies are taking the same steps for requirements of vaccination to continue working.
To view the Governor’s press conference click here.
Read the full story on the governor's Medium page.