City Of Pittsburgh Mandating COVID-19 Vaccinations For Employees
By: KDKA-TV News Staff
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The City of Pittsburgh is requiring all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto issued an executive order requiring all city employees to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 22. It includes anyone employed by the city, full-time or part-time and even interns.
The executive order cites CDC studies that show unvaccinated people are 4.5 times more likely to get infected and 11 times more likely to die.
"Our employees provide essential public services on the front lines, interacting directly with our critical communities like seniors, youth and those experiencing emergencies," said Peduto in a press release. "It is our responsibility to act collectively to protect both our employees and the public so that we can move on and continue our recovery from the pandemic."
Employees can request a medical or religious exemption but will have to be tested for COVID-19 weekly.
The executive order says city employees who are not fully vaccinated and do not have an approved exemption will be subject to employment actions which include unpaid administrative leave or termination until they show proof of vaccination.
This summer, the city announced that all new workers would have to be vaccinated as a condition of employment.
To give employees the opportunity to get vaccinated, clinics will be held at city facilities.
In the past month, two Pittsburgh Police officers died from COVID-19.
