Inslee announces educator vaccination requirement
By Dan Thesman on Wednesday, August 18th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News
OLYMPIA – Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced a vaccination requirement for employees working in K-12, most childcare and early learning, and higher education Wednesday.
K-12 educators, school staff, coaches, bus drivers, school volunteers and others working in school facilities will have until October 18 to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment. The requirement includes, public, private and charter schools and comes as schools across the state prepare to return for the 2021-2022 school year amid rapidly increasing case and hospitalization numbers. This does not impact students, regardless of age.
“It has been a long pandemic, and our students and teachers have borne their own unique burdens throughout,” Inslee said. “The virus is increasingly impacting young people, and those under the age of 12 still can’t get the vaccine for themselves. We won’t gamble with the health of our children, our educators and school staff, nor the health of the communities they serve.”
Inslee also announced Wednesday an expansion of the statewide mask mandate to all individuals, regardless of vaccination status. The statewide mask mandate goes into effect Monday, Aug. 23.
The mask mandate will apply to most all public places across the state, including restaurants, grocery stores, malls, and public-facing offices. While not required, the Washington State Department of Health strongly recommends individuals also wear masks in crowded outdoor settings, such as outdoor concerts, fairs and farmers markets.
Photo via Office of Washington State Governor Jay Inslee
