COVID-19 Vaccine Required For Pasadena Bars, Outdoor Mega-Events

PASADENA, CA — Pasadena residents and visitors hoping to grab a pint of beer at Lucky Baldwin’s or catch a game at the Rose Bowl will have to be vaccinated starting Oct. 7, according to a public health order issued Monday.

Customers and employees at a bar, brewery, nightclub or lounge will have to receive at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the time the order is set to take effect. Full vaccination must be completed by Nov. 4, according to the order.

Children under the age of 12 are currently unable to receive the COVID-19 and are exempt from the health order. The order applies to businesses that primarily serve adults and already require customers to show proof of age, according to the Pasadena Public Health Department.

The health order does not apply to restaurants, but public health officials recommended that eateries require vaccine verification for customers who dine indoors.

For outdoor events and those with more than 10,000 people in attendance, there are some exceptions. City officials will allow attendees to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the event in place of vaccination proof.

The order is meant to help curb the spread of COVID-19 within the city, which is still considered at a substantial level for spread, according to Pasadena Health Officer Ying-Ying Goh.

Self-attestation will not be allowed to verify a person’s vaccination status or negative COVID-19 test, she said in a statement.

“Many mega-event organizers have already established verification systems and are requiring proof of vaccination for patrons,” Goh said. “Pasadena Public Health Department is offering large venues and organizers of mega-events technical assistance to comply with these requirements.”

Pasadena's vaccination requirement is similar to a health order issued earlier this month by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which applied to cities that do not have a health department.