Coronavirus Vaccine Mandated For State Employees In Virginia

VIRGINIA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for state employees and urged unvaccinated people to get the shot as the state sees an uptick of cases and hospitalizations with the growing presence of the delta variant.

The vaccine mandate affects an estimated 122,000 people employed by the state. State employees will have to show proof of full vaccination by Sept. 1. Those who choose not to get vaccinated will be asked to get weekly COVID-19 testing and show proof of a negative test result.

"I am directing this measure to keep state employees safe and to keep the people we serve safe and I really encourage local governments and private companies to do the same," said Northam at a Thursday news conference. "There is no reason we need to see more suffering and sickness not when safe, effective, free vaccines are readily available at your local pharmacy at the grocery store at your doctor's office at the health department at lots of places in every community."

Full vaccination is considered two weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two weeks after the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine. Secretary of Administration Grindly Johnson estimated the current vaccination rate among state employees is 72 or 73 percent, similar to the state rate of adults at least partially vaccinated.

Last week, President Joe Biden had announced a vaccine mandate for federal workers, which impacts areas with high concentrations of federal workers like Northern Virginia.

The mandate comes as most Virginians getting infected with COVID-19 recently are unvaccinated. According to Virginia Department of Health data, 99.24 percent of COVID-19 cases between Jan. 21 and July 30 were in people not fully vaccinated (203,217 cases). Not fully vaccinated people represented 99 percent of deaths and hospitalizations (7,230 hospitalized, 2,471 deaths). Among fully vaccinated people, there were 1,566 breakthrough cases (representing 0.034 percent of cases), 145 hospitalizations (0.0032 percent) and 42 deaths (0.0009 percent).

"It breaks my heart as your governor and as a doctor to see people getting sick getting hospitalized and unfortunately dying of a disease that is now preventable for most people, a disease they can get vaccinated against," said Northam.

Northam said the state had seen progress over the summer, with case counts dropping to the lowest point since October 2020 and declines in hospitalizations, deaths and percent positivity. The state has 72.8 percent of the adult population at least partially vaccinated and 65.4 percent fully vaccinated.

Now the governor says the case counts are now trending up due to the spread of the delta variant and people who choose not to get vaccinated. The delta variant (B.1.617.2), first identified in India, is said to be more contagious and accounts for 83.4 percent of cases in the U.S. for the two weeks ending on July 31.

"Even though delta is more contagious, vaccinated people are still strongly protected against getting so sick that they have to go into the hospital," said Northam. "Nearly every single person who has died from COVID has been unvaccinated."

Northam made a plea to those who haven't gotten the vaccine, pointing to stories circulating social media and the news of people who didn't get vaccinated and got sick.

One example comes from Bristol, Virginia resident Travis Campbell. Campbell has been posting Facebook videos of his experience being hospitalized with COVID-19, some of which he can be seen using a ventilator.

Northam cited a July 25 post from Campbell announcing his fight with COVID-19: "I truly regret not getting the vaccine," the post states. "Im testifying to all my bulletproof friends thats holding out, it's time to protect your family, its not worth getting long term lung damage or death please go get the vaccine."

As Campbell encourages others to get vaccinated and avoid his situation, his story has influenced some. A CVS pharmacist messaged Campbell saying they came in to get the vaccine because they know him or saw his story on the news.

"Travis, I am grateful to you for using your situation to encourage other people to get vaccinated, and I sincerely hope that they listen to you, and I hope you get better soon," said Northam.

VDH data shows the pace of vaccinations has dropped since the spring, but Northam expressed optimism that the daily average is seeing a slight uptick. An average 13,000 doses are being administered per day, according to VDH.

Vaccines are only authorized for people 12 and older, but FDA authorization for children under 12 could come as early as the fall. In addition, Pfizer, the only vaccine currently approved for ages 12 to 17, is seeking full approval from the FDA.

Mask wearing remains a recommendation in all public indoor places regardless of vaccination status. Virginia's mask mandate ended on May 15 for fully vaccinated people. Masks are still required by federal mandate on public transportation.

Northam also cited new CDC guidance recommending universal masking for all students, staff and teachers in K-12 schools. The governor says the in-person learning legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly in March 2021 requires school divisions to follow the latest CDC guidance.

"It's the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I expect our school districts to follow the law," said Northam.

School districts in Northern Virginia such as Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, have already adopted policies requiring masks indoors to start the school year.