City Of Pittsburgh, Pitt Issue COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements

PITTSBURGH, PA — The city of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh issued separate COVID-19 vaccination requirements for their employees on Monday, with Pitt's edict also extending to students.

City workers must be fully vaccinated by Dec. 22. The city will host clinics at city facilities to make it easier for employees to get their shots, but those who miss the deadline could be subject to actions ranging from unpaid lead to termination.

"Our employees provide essential public services on the front lines, interacting directly with our critical communities like seniors, youth and those experiencing emergencies," Mayor Bill Peduto stated in a news 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.”

Pitt is requiring all students, faculty and staff at all of its campuses to be vaccinated by Dec. 6.

Effective December 6, 2021, the University of Pittsburgh will require
all Pitt affiliates on all campuses to be vaccinated against COVID-19
or have an approved exemption. This includes:

"The most successful and sustainable approach to keeping our community healthy and safe is one that utilizes vaccination as a condition of studying or working on our campuses," the university stated on its website.

"By enforcing this requirement now, we will be able to maintain a high immunization rate on our campuses, while continuing to support our students and research, as well as protect our workforce, with minimal disruption to our programs, activities, or operations. "

Currently enrolled students who don't meet the deadline won't be eligible to enroll in spring classes or live in the residence halls as of Jan. 1. Students who enroll for spring class prior to December 1 but fail to provide proof or obtain an exemption by this deadline will be dis-enrolled.

Faculty and staff who don't get vaccinated face disciplinary actions up to and including termination.

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