Boston Employees Get Extra Week To Comply With Vaccine Mandate

BOSTON — Workers in the City of Boston will have an extra week to comply with the city's COVID-19 regulations.

On Sunday Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said no employees in Boston will be disciplined or placed on unpaid leave this upcoming week, through Jan. 30, if they have yet to comply with the vaccination policy.

On Dec. 20, 2021, Wu announced the plan for the "B Together" initiative, requiring all residents ages 12 and up to show proof of vaccination of at least one dose to enter certain public spaces around the city. The "B Together" plan also requires all city employees to be vaccinated by Jan. 15 or face disciplinary consequences.

Now she is delaying this decision by more than a week, saying about 94% of city employees have already been vaccinated against COVID-19 when the "B Together" plan was first put in play.

Since the announcement, more than 1,600 additional Boston employees have gotten vaccinated for the first time, Wu's office said Sunday.

"The city will continue communicating with our employees and supporting access to vaccinations before January 30th, 2022, as we work to achieve our goal of vaccinating the entire city workforce," Wu's office said.

As of 2 p.m. Sunday, 18,265 Boston employees have submitted proof of vaccination in compliance with the policy, city officials said.

Wu is scheduled for a press conference at Boston City Hall Monday at 10 a.m. to address the City's COVID-19 vaccination requirement.