Bellingham requiring city employees to get COVID-19 vaccine

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The mayor of Bellingham announced Monday that he signed an order requiring all city employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment.

Bellingham joins Seattle, the state of Washington and President Biden in requiring employees to get the vaccine.

About 79% of the city’s approximately 975 employees have already voluntarily reported that they have gotten the vaccine, Mayor Seth Fleetwood said.

“By this order I am committing the City to join the growing alliance of organizations, both public and private, who understand that the pathway to defeating COVID-19 is getting people vaccinated,” Fleetwood said. “We are facing the worst pandemic in modern history. Our hospitals are filling, we are experiencing record numbers of illnesses and rising deaths, and now cases are increasing in our schools.”

Under the order, employees must get their final dose and provide proof of vaccination no later than Nov. 19 and be fully vaccinated by Dec. 3.

It applies to all city employees, volunteers and contractors.

Employees seeking accommodations for medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs must apply by Oct. 15.

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