Inslee announces COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Washington state employees, health care workers

State employees and those working in private-sector health care facilities across Washington now have a choice: get vaccinated against COVID-19, or face termination. 

Following the guidance of states such as New York and California, Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Monday a mandate that would make vaccination a condition of employment for hundreds of thousands state employees and health care workers in Washington. 

Workers will have until Oct. 18 to be fully vaccinated, meaning those who receive the Phizer or Moderna vaccine have to get their second dose by Oct. 4. If an employee can't show proof of vaccination by Oct. 18, they can face “non-disciplinary dismissal” for failure to meet job requirements, according to Inslee's office. Employees will be allowed to seek exemptions for religious or medical reasons.

Inslee said the move is necessary to stymie the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Washington, which is being fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus. 

"We have what is essentially a new virus at our throats," he said at a Monday news conference. "A new virus that is twice as transmissible, and is causing an explosion of this dreadful disease in the state of Washington." 

While the number of Washington residents being vaccinated has remained stagnant over the last month, the number of new cases has sharply increased. The state Department of Health says Washington is averaging roughly 1,500 new cases per day and hospitalizations have increased by 20% in recent weeks.

Health experts say the surge in cases is the result of the Delta variant, which is 50% more contagious than the original strain, spreading through unvaccinated pockets of the state. Officials estimate that the variant likely accounts for more than 90% of the state’s new cases and say that nearly all of those now being hospitalized with COVID were not vaccinated when they were admitted.

"Unfortunately, we still have far too many of our fellow Washingtonians who have not gotten their vaccine thus far," Umair Shah, the state Secretary of Health, said at Monday's news conference. "They are not just unvaccinated, they are unprotected, and they are a big reason why our state is once again seeing a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases." 

King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, who were present at Monday's news conference, said they are also implementing similar mandates for all county and city workers.  

Officials say the order — made under the governor's emergency powers — could potentially apply to more than 400,000 workers in Washington's health care facilities. It will also apply to roughly 68,000 workers employed by the state. Officials estimate that roughly 26,500 employees between King County and the City of Seattle will be affected by the local mandates. 
 
The mandate for state workers applies to agencies under the governor’s control, including the Departments of Ecology, Agriculture, Commerce, Transportation, Corrections, Social and Health Services, and the Washington State Patrol. It also applies to to private health care workers and those in long-term care settings, including nursing homes, adult family homes, assisted living and residential treatment facilities. Employees who contract with the state — such as workers doing construction on state property — are also subject to the mandate. 

The requirement applies to all such employees, regardless of whether they're working virtually or in person.  

The mandate does not apply to state workers whose agencies are overseen by a different elected state official, including employees in Washington's K-12 schools and public universities, and employees with the state Department of Natural Resources.

Last month, Inslee's office recommended that all individuals wear masks in indoor public spaces, regardless of their vaccination status. That guidance did not change Monday, but Inslee said another statewide mask mandate could be on the table if cases continue to rise. 

"People need to understand, this is a wily beast we're fighting," he said. "If these trends continue, we will have to take further action in one dimension or another to restrain this pandemic."  

Monday's announcement marks the first move by the state to make vaccines a requirement to any extent. Many private institutions in Washington have already taken such steps.

More than 100 bars and restaurants in Seattle now require proof of vaccination upon entry, and Microsoft — one of the state’s largest employers — announced last week that it’s requiring vaccinations for employees who want to resume working in person.

The list of Seattle entertainment venues requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination is also growing. The Seattle Theatre Group (STG) announced last week it would begin requiring proof of vaccination for entry at the Paramount, Moore and Neptune theaters starting Aug. 12. 

While Washington hit its target of a 70% COVID-19 vaccination rate for ages 16 and older in July, the pace at which residents are getting immunized has slowed considerably in the last month. 

As of last week, about 53% of Washington residents had been fully vaccinated.