COVID vaccination mandate goes into effect next week for St. Clair County employees
An employee vaccination mandate is expected to go into effect for St. Clair County employees next week.
The mandate, which was originally set to go into place this week, will require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or file for a religious or “strong belief” exemption starting Tuesday, Nov. 2.
County Human Resources Director Frank Bergman said he estimates 80% of the roughly 900 county employees have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and that number has been rising as the deadline approaches.“
“We may have a few (people who won’t get vaccinated) but those numbers have dwindled greatly and our vaccination rate has gone up significantly,” Bergman said. “If you are not vaccinated and refuse to fill out the paperwork for an exemption you won’t be able to report for work.”
He said people who refuse to get vaccinated or go through the process of seeking an exemption could lose their job with the county but stressed that it would be on a “case by case” basis and that there is no blanket policy. Some employees may be allowed to work from home for the foreseeable future, he added.
Exemptions include those whose religion does not allow for vaccines or people that have a “strong belief” against vaccinations, Bergman said. However, those individuals will need to be tested for COVID-19 twice a week, monitor their temperature and will have to wear a mask at all times while in county buildings.
The county will have nurses on site to test employees who are not vaccinated but have an exemption.
Employees who seek out their initial vaccination or their booster are paid while they are getting vaccinated, Bergman said.
He said the goal of the mandate is to ensure the county’s employees are healthy and to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Ultimately we really care about all of our employees’ health and well-being and safety, not just a few,” he said. “Everybody matters. That’s our slogan here.”
Last week in Madison County, board member Mike Babcock said the county’s board of health, which is made up of county board members, would not require county employees to be vaccinated. Babcock chairs the board.
“I would never support such a mandate that would impose any state or federal initiative attempting to impose such a mandate,” he said at the county board meeting. “We respect the conscientious decision to take the COVID vaccine or not to take the COVID vaccine. “
This story was originally published October 28, 2021 at 7:00 AM.