Over 95% of Burlington City Employees Fully Vaccinated Following Implementation of New Policy
Vaccination Rate Among City Employees Passes 95%, up from 90% in August
Burlington, VT – On August 20th Mayor Miro Weinberger announced a new vaccination policy requiring all City employees to either be vaccinated or submit to regular COVID-19 testing, effective October 11th. This week, the City reports that more than 95% of employees have submitted proof of vaccination, with 56 employees beginning weekly testing. New hires are required to show proof of vaccination with no option to meet the policy requirements through testing.
“Vaccines are safe and highly effective against severe outcomes from COVID-19. I urge all Burlingtonians who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “I welcomed the news from the Biden Administration that it has directed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to require vaccination or weekly testing for employers with 100 or more employees. This is an important step forward in expanding vaccination among the U.S. workforce. I hope that employers across the City will follow our lead and require vaccinations regardless of the size of their business. It is incumbent on all of us to do what we can with the tools we have to bring Burlington’s vaccination rate as high as possible.”
Under the City’s new vaccination policy, employees are considered fully vaccinated 14-days after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or 14-days after receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Boosters are recommended for those eligible but not required at this time.
Some Vermonters are now eligible for booster vaccinations or third doses. According to the Vermont Department of Health:
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The CDC has recommended a booster shot for certain people six months after their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Studies show that protection against the virus may decrease over time. Boosters provide an increased immune response to provide improved protection against CVOID-19. You can get a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine if you got your second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least six months ago and are at higher risk for COVID-19. This includes people 65 and older, people who are 18 and older who are BIPOC, those who live with someone who is BIPOC, have certain medical conditions, or work in indoor settings where you interact with the public and other workers. Booster vaccines have only been approved for recipients of the Pfizer vaccine that are 18 and older at this time.
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The CDC also recommends that people with moderate to severely compromised immune systems should receive a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines at least 28 days after their second dose. Visit the Vermont Department of Health for more information about applicable health conditions, and talk to your health care provider about whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for you.
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