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On Monday, DC Health announced a new requirement that all District healthcare workers must be vaccinated or be regularly tested by September 30. 

The new order applies to all licensed and unlicensed health professionals (including EMS workers) who work in the District. By September 30, all healthcare workers are required to get one dose of any of the three EUA vaccines for COVID-19, or face regular testing. However, once the vaccines are granted full federal approval, the ability to opt-out with regular testing ends, and a waiver can only be granted for a religious or medical exemption.

In addition, new licensees for the District are required to show proof of full vaccination as part of an application. Renewing licensees are required to submit proof of vaccination upon renewing their license. 

“It’s a very robust requirement, and it is necessary for us to ensure that we’re creating safe environments in our health-care facilities, and in any place where people receive health care . . . to make sure we can prevent outbreaks,” Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt said, according to The Washington Post. “We all saw what happened last year during the peak of the pandemic when health-care workers themselves were succumbing to the infection because they didn’t have opportunity for protection with a vaccine.”

Keep an eye on this space for more information.