Governor mandates vaccines for state workers, local governments weighing options

Governor Jay Inslee is requiring that state, private healthcare and long-term care workers become fully vaccinated by mid-October.

As a condition of employment, workers will need to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination by October 18 or risk being fired for failing to meet legal job qualifications. The August 9 proclamation applies to remote workers, on-site contractors and volunteers.

Inslee encouraged local governments, higher education, private companies and others to create similar requirements.

Blaine city manager Michael Jones said the city is not pursuing a Covid-19 vaccination job requirement at this time, but is working with city staff to evaluate Covid-19 protocols on addressing the vaccine’s public health advantages.

“My hope and expectation is that employees, like all community members, will do the responsible thing and get vaccinated to protect themselves, their friends and family, and the broader community,” Jones said. “We should not have to mandate it.”

Jed Holmes, Whatcom County Executive’s office spokesperson, said the governor’s announcement prompted internal discussions for the county but hasn’t resulted in a policy decision.

State exemptions apply to workers with “legitimate medical reasons or sincerely held religious reasons,” according to the governor’s office and do not extend to personal or philosophical objections.

The governor mandated workers become vaccinated after an increase in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in every county, with the majority of cases being among people who aren’t vaccinated.

In an update to previous rules, the state won’t offer regular Covid-19 testing as an alternative for unvaccinated workers in group settings. Testing is unable to prevent outbreaks and would be a financial burden to taxpayers, according to the governor’s office.

King County and the city of Seattle will also require that their employees be vaccinated. The state’s new proclamation comes as other states across the country, including California and New York, and private companies like PeaceHealth require vaccination for its employees.

PeaceHealth announced August 3 that it would require all of its healthcare workers, including those at the St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, be vaccinated. All workers – including providers, students, contractors and volunteers – are required to be vaccinated by Tuesday, August 31, unless medically exempt.

About 80 percent of the healthcare company’s employees are vaccinated, according to a PeaceHealth media release. Workers who are unvaccinated will need regular Covid-19 testing, additional masking and could be reassigned to non-patient care.