Vaccine Mandate To Be Explored For Fairfax Government Workers

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County will look into a potential COVID-19 vaccine mandate for county government employees after the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a board matter Tuesday.

The board matter from Chairman Jeff McKay asks County Executive Bryan Hill to "thoroughly explore" a COVID-19 mandate as he finalizes a return to in-person work plan for county employees in the fall. The requirement would have the typical religious and medical exemptions used by other public and private sector employers. The board matter also requests Hill consider a face mask mandate and weekly testing for employees who are not exempted and refuse the vaccine.

The request comes amidst concerns about the Delta variant among unvaccinated people. The variant, first seen in India and spreads faster than the original coronavirus strain, has become the predominant variant in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the Delta variant made up 83.2 percent of cases in the two weeks ending on July 17.

The three COVID-19 vaccines with FDA emergency use authorization in the U.S. appear to be effective against the variant, although the extent may vary, according to Yale Medicine. Experts have not determined if a booster shot will be necessary.

The Fairfax County board matter notes evidence showing the vaccines are safe and effective in preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

"We must keep in mind that our youngest children remain exposed to COVID-19 because they are unable to be vaccinated," the board matter states. "We all know how important it will be the fully reopen schools and our economy; our ability to do so is dependent on people getting vaccinated and feeling safe. As a large employer, and one that has successfully and consistently stressed to our residents the importance of being vaccinated, we must practice what we preach."

To date, 75.5 percent of the Fairfax County adult population is at least partially vaccinated, and 68.9 percent is fully vaccinated, Virginia Department of Health data shows.