District officials said Monday they will now require all health care workers to get their COVID-19 vaccines by the end of next month.
All health care workers must get their first dose of either the two-shot Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Sept. 30, D.C. Health Director Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt said in a briefing.
The requirement applies to all certified and registered health professionals, EMS providers such as paramedics, and all unlicensed health care workers, including personal care aides and patient care technicians.
“As we continue to see a rise in the numbers of positive cases among unvaccinated persons across the city, it is necessary that we ensure all health care workers in the District are vaccinated to decrease the spread of COVID-19,” Dr. Nesbitt said. “This new mandate can reduce the likelihood of a COVID-19 outbreak in health care settings and among vulnerable populations.”
Health care workers who opt to not get vaccinated might have an option for weekly testing through their employers. However, the District hasn’t established that requirement at the city level, Dr. Nesbitt said, although some health care providers might mandate it as an added safety measure.
If a COVID-19 vaccine receives full regulatory approval, then the option to get regularly tested would not be available, the health director said.
The only exemptions from the shots would be for religious or medical reasons if the Food and Drug Administration fully approves a vaccine, Dr. Nesbitt noted, which could happen in the coming weeks.
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