Providence To Require COVID-19 Vaccines For All Employees

PROVIDENCE, RI — Starting next month, Providence city employees will be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The new policy goes into effect Jan. 14, updating the previous policy that allowed unvaccinated employees to get tested weekly.

"The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and the best solution we have to fight this pandemic," Mayor Jorge Elorza said. "A few days ago, 1,853 Rhode Islanders tested positive for COVID in a single day—a new record high for Rhode Island. With cases continuing to rise and our hospital infrastructure facing continued strain, we need strong public health measures and policies in place to increase vaccination rates and reduce the likelihood of hospitalization for those who contract the virus. This announcement ensures City of Providence employees will do our part to keep residents safe while accessing city services and help preserve our hospitals."

Under the new policy, employees will be considered "fully vaccinated" after receiving the final dose of their first vaccine series — the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or the single-dose Johnson and Johnson shot. Employees who do not comply will face termination, the city said.

Andrew Saal, the chief medical officer of the Providence Community Health Centers, called vaccines "the most effective tool to protect the health and safety of everyone in our community against COVID-19."

"A healthy community needs a healthy workforce, and the vaccines can help protect all city employees as well as their families at home," Saal said. "We support efforts to increase the vaccine rate across our entire community and commend the city for their efforts."