Alameda County Mandates Vaccination For First Responders

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA — First responders in Alameda County who enter certain health care facilities as part of their jobs must be vaccinated by Dec. 21 or submit to weekly COVID-19 tests.

Law enforcement officers, fire personnel and other workers involved in emergency and nonemergency medical transport are affected by the order, which went into effect Tuesday and was signed by Alameda County's health officer, Dr. Nicholas Moss.

"Due to the nature of their professions, these workers are at high-risk for spreading COVID-19 to patients in their care, to older and medically vulnerable residents, and to staff at these health care settings," the Alameda County Public Health Department said in a statement.

First responders must be fully vaccinated by the deadline, meaning they have received both doses of the two-part Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

If first responders decline to provide proof of vaccination, they must wear face masks and submit to weekly tests, according to the order.

Employers may opt to tighten restrictions and eliminate the option to wear masks and receive regular tests.

The order applies to first responders who enter health care facilities deemed high risk by the state, which includes hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, psychiatric hospitals, substance use treatment facilities and mental health treatment facilities.