Oakland, CA – To provide a safe and healthy workplace for City employees and their families, protect the public we serve, and reduce the risk of community transmission—and in alignment with public health guidance—today City Administrator Ed Reiskin released a draft Mandatory Vaccination Policy to the City’s union labor partners for their review and comment. Under the policy, all employees must, as a condition of employment: (1) report their vaccination status to the City no later than October 15, 2021; and (2) be fully vaccinated and verify that vaccination status to the City not later than November 1, 2021, unless the employee has applied for an exemption, and unless stricter State or Federal legal requirements apply. In summary:
In addition to requesting feedback from the City’s labor partners, staff are in the process of testing a new online portal for employees to upload their proof of vaccination. Following the comment period and launch of the portal, the final policy will be announced and implemented. BACKGROUND The public health data is clear: vaccination is the most effective tool we have to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, protect against hospitalizations and death, and bring an end to this pandemic that has killed 4.4 million people around the globe. Vaccinations are safe and effective and, at this point, essential; they are free and easy to get. Public health experts at the Federal, State, and local levels warn that COVID-19 poses a more significant risk to individuals who are not fully vaccinated. Current cases in Alameda County are more than three times higher among individuals who are not vaccinated compared to those who are. |