PA To Mandate Vaccine Or Weekly Testing For 25K State Workers

PENNSYLVANIA — All employees in state healthcare facilities and certain long-term homes must get vaccinated, or submit to weekly testing, Pennsylvania officials announced on Tuesday.

Speaking amid a downpour of rain at the Dauphin County Health Center, Gov. Tom Wolf said the new mandate was needed given the current vaccination rate and the surging virus numbers statewide.

"As well as we're doing, it's not good enough," Gov. Wolf said, pointing to recent statistics. "With the vaccine, we have the ability to do even better. This is not where we wanna be."

Employees in these state-run facilities must be fully vaccinated by Sept. 7, according to the new guidance. Starting Sept. 7, all new hires must be vaccinated before starting employment.

Furthermore, starting Oct. 1, the state will be incentivizing the vaccine by offering employees a day off once they receive it.

There are some 25,000 employees in impacted state facilities, which include veterans homes, state hospitals, corrections facilities, homes for those with intellectual challenges, and community health centers.

"These individuals are often our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, who are unable to leave these facilities and rely on the direct care of the staff," Gov. Wolf added. "We want our residents and their loved ones to have peace of mind that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe."

The new effort comes as vaccination rates have appeared to reach something of a plateau in recent weeks. As of Tuesday, the state had fully immunized 63.8 percent of residents 18 and older. That rate stood at 61 percent a month ago. Back in May, Gov. Wolf and other state leaders had expressed optimism that the state could reach the 70 percent fully vaccinated mark by the end of June.

Meanwhile, the virus continues its latest surge on the heels of the emergence of the more contagious delta variant. The state's positivity rate has shot up to 5.4 percent, after sitting at 3.9 percent just a week ago.