OLYMPIA, Wash. – Today’s the deadline for state workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Both public and private health care workers also have to be fully vaccinated by Monday, October 18th, under Governor Jay Inslee’s emergency proclamation.
His office is allowing up to 45 days of leave for some workers whose request for an exemption was denied, and 18 days for those who have gotten one shot to finish the process.
Workers for the City of Bellingham had until the end of the work day Friday, October 15th, to request an exemption from Mayor Seth Fleetwood’s order.
Bellingham employees must show proof that they’ve been fully vaccinated by November 19th.
A federal judge has refused to halt Washington’s vaccine mandate.
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson tweeted that his office successfully defended the mandate and claims they’re “undefeated in these challenges to the Governor’s public health measures.”
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 105 state workers including personnel from the Bellingham Fire Department, State Patrol, Department of Transportation and other agencies
It claimed the state “categorically” denied religious or medical exemptions and caused workers of color to be disproportionally dismissed.