COVID-19 Vaccines Required For Rhode Island Health Care Workers

PROVIDENCE, RI — All Rhode Island health care workers will be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine by the fall, Gov. Dan McKee announced Tuesday.

The new policy applies to health care workers at any state-licensed facilities. By Oct. 1, employees must get a vaccine or a valid religious or medical exemption, McKee said.

Until the new policy goes into effect, unvaccinated health care workers will be required to wear a mask while working and get tested for COIVD-19 twice weekly.

McKee said that he does not anticipate having to implement consequences for workers who refuse to get vaccinated, saying that he expects high uptake.

"We'll deal with that if it happens," McKee said.

The new policy mirrors that of Lifespan and Care New England, the state's two largest hospital groups. Both will require all employees to get vaccinated by early September.