Politics & Government
Pima County To Stop Requiring COVID Vaccines For Most Employees
The change is in accordance with the state's adoption of a law prohibiting government entities from requiring residents to be vaccinated.
TUCSON, AZ — Once a new state law goes into effect, the only Pima County employees required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will be those who deliver clinical care. County employees who don't provide clinical care and new hires will not be required to be vaccinated once House Bill 2498 goes into effect.
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to modify the requirement, in accordance with the law signed by Gov. Doug Ducey on April 25. The modified requirement will not take effect until the bill becomes law, 90 days after the end of the legislative session.
Supervisor Steve Christy was the only member of the board who voted against the modified requirements. Christy is the only Republican on the board and is staunchly against vaccine mandates of any kind. Christy added that some of his constituents were asking the Board of Supervisors to reinstate any county employees who had been fired because they refused to be vaccinated.
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The county's vaccine requirements for certain employees lets some people know they're not welcome to work for Pima County, Christy said.
The state bill prohibits government entities from from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for any state residents. Health care institutions run by a government entity are exempt.
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The county plans to continue vaccine requirements for new hires, people being promoted and employees who work with vulnerable populations until the bill goes into effect.
The board previously mandated vaccination for Pima County employees who "had sustained in-person contact with members of the public for more than 15 minutes at a time and at less than six feet without an intervening physical barrier, such as those working in clinical and correctional settings, public service counters, community centers, and those serving congregate meals," according to a news release from the county.
More than 5,900 Pima County employees, making up 87 percent of its workforce, have been vaccinated for COVID, according to the county.
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