Vaccine Mandate Deadline for Healthcare Workers and K-12 School Staff is October 18

On October 18, the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers and K-12 school staff will take effect.

This means that by this date covered healthcare providers and healthcare staff and K-12 school staff must provide their employer with either:
     • Proof of vaccination showing they are fully vaccinated; or
     • Documentation of a medical or religious exception.

The rule states that a medical exception must be corroborated by a document signed by a medical provider, who is not the individual seeking the exception, certifying that the individual has a physical or mental impairment that limits the individual’s ability to receive a COVID-19 vaccination based on a specified medical diagnosis, and that specifies whether the impairment is temporary in nature or permanent. The medical exception form can be found here.

A religious exception must be corroborated by a document, on a form prescribed by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), signed by the individual stating that the individual is requesting an exception from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement on the basis of a sincerely held religious belief and including a statement describing the way in which the vaccination requirement conflicts with the religious observance, practice, or belief of the individual. The religious exception form can be found here.

Additional resources for healthcare and K-12 settings can be found through the OHA website.