Vaccine Mandate Begins For Philly Healthcare Workers, Higher Ed

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia's coronavirus vaccine mandate for all healthcare workers and people at colleges and universities is in effect Friday.

Healthcare staff in hospitals and long-term care facilities, as well as everyone in higher education, are required to have at least one dose of a COVID vaccine by Friday rather than being required to be fully vaccinated by that date and will need to submit to regular testing until they are fully vaccinated.

Healthcare workers will need two tests per week of either antigen (rapid) or PCR testing, while higher education folks will need either weekly PCR tests or twice weekly antigen tests.

Both groups would then have to get their second dose, if they get Pfizer or Moderna, by Nov. 15.

Hospital, long-term care facility, and university staff, students, and faculty who don’t have approved exemptions and who don’t have that first dose by Oct. 15, or if required, their second dose by Nov. 15 would be out of compliance and could not work or study in these settings.

All other healthcare workers, except for those in hospitals or long-term care facilities, will have one additional week beyond that accommodation, until Oct. 22, to receive at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and will need to be tested twice per week using either antigen or PCR testing until fully vaccinated. They would have to get their second dose, if needed, by Nov. 22.

The city has been working with healthcare providers and higher education institutions to get all of their staff, faculty, volunteers, and students vaccinated.

Below are deadlines for vaccinations mandated by the city:

Friday, Oct. 15
All healthcare staff in hospitals and long-term care facilities, and everyone in higher education, needs at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and regular testing based on their setting.

Friday, Oct. 22
All other healthcare workers, except for those in hospitals or long-term care facilities, needs at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and to be tested twice per week using either antigen or PCR testing.

Monday, Nov. 15
All healthcare staff in hospitals and long-term care facilities, and everyone in higher education, needs to have completed their vaccine series.

Monday, Nov. 22
All other healthcare workers, except for those in hospitals or long-term care facilities, needs to have completed their vaccine series.