All city of Portland employees must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus — or obtain a medical or religious exemption — by the middle of October if they wish to keep their jobs, elected leaders announced Monday.
“With COVID-19 filling hospitals and claiming lives, we must do everything within our power to end this pandemic and restore our community’s health,” wrote Mayor Ted Wheeler and all four City Commissioners — Jo Ann Hardesty, Mingus Mapps, Carmen Rubio and Dan Ryan — in a letter to municipal workers.
The city will require its approximately 6,800 employees to either submit proof of vaccination, show they are in the process of being vaccinated or apply for an exemption by Sept. 10 and be fully vaccinated or granted a rare exemption by Oct. 18.
Those who fail to meet the deadline “will be put on a list for separation from employment,” according to the letter. The city plans to provide a comprehensive outline of the new policy later this week and to answer whatever questions municipal workers might have.
“We are confident that this is the right decision for our workplace and our city,” the letter reads. “We need our small businesses to stay open, as well as the spaces and events that enrich our community. And we must support our children, who cannot be vaccinated and are especially vulnerable.”
The looming mandate comes as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to surge statewide, with by far the highest rates in counties far from Portland where vaccination rates are very low.
Earlier this month, Multnomah County imposed a vaccine mandate on its employees and Gov. Kate Brown has announced similar requirements for all teachers, health care workers and state employees in Oregon.
-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632
Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com
Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh
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Portland to city employees: Get COVID-19 vaccine or lose your job - OregonLive
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