Date of order: February 9, 2022

This Order requires that all Law Enforcement, Fire, and EMS personnel who work in Higher-Risk Settings or routinely interact with the public to be Fully Vaccinated and obtain boosters when they become eligible. Unvaccinated first responders will need to receive their first dose of the COVID vaccine by March 1 and complete their primary series no later than April 15. In addition, personnel will need to be up-to-date with a booster shot within 15 days of becoming booster-eligible to continue working in higher-risk settings and interact with the public. Starting April 15, unvaccinated or unboosted first responders will be prohibited from entering higher-risk settings or interacting with the public in the course of their work unless they have a qualifying exemption. First responders without a medical or religious exemption can no longer “test out” of vaccination requirements. This order goes into effect at 12:01 AM on Thursday, February 10.

Rationale: Individuals working in higher-risk settings (1) can expose highly vulnerable individuals who are at increased risk of severe illness and death, (2) must be protected from COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible to ensure adequate staffing in these critical settings, and (3) in the case of jails, shelters, and skilled nursing facilities, can cause large outbreaks if infected. Additionally, Law Enforcement, Fire, and EMS personnel who routinely interact with the public must also be protected from COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible. Law Enforcement, Fire, and EMS personnel interact with the public in a variety of high-risk and often vulnerable situations, including providing medical care, intervening in high-conflict situations, and managing crowds or other large groups of people. In these situations, members of the public may not be wearing face coverings and may not be vaccinated.

For more information, visit: https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/020922-FirstResponderVaccinations 

Resources:

Marin County Public Health Orders