Inslee rescinds COVID-19 vaccine mandate for state workers, but offers cash to keep up with shots

Washington state employees will no longer be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Wednesday, but they will be offered an incentive to stay up to date on their shots.

Inslee moved to rescind directive 22-13.1 the same day that COVID-19 vaccine requirements will end for federal employees and contractors.

The action comes months after Washington state’s COVID-19 emergency order ended on Oct. 31, 2022. It also coincides with the expiration of the federal public health emergency. Notably, the World Health Organization announced an end to the global health emergency for COVID-19 last week.

In a news release, Inslee acknowledged the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic over the last three years and thanked state employees for their service during that time.

“Throughout this public health crisis, our state employee family demonstrated inspiring resilience and dedication, and I thank our employees for their exemplary service under unprecedented circumstances,” Inslee said.

“We have risen to the occasion during a defining moment in our history, and the measures we took helped us to achieve one of the lowest death rates in the nation.”

Washington state had the fifth lowest death rate among states, with 212 per 100,000 from Jan. 21, 2020, to May 3, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In all, the data show 16,151 people died of COVID-19 in Washington state.

The United States had a death rate of 340 per 100,000 over the same period, the data shows. Over 1.1 million people died across the country in that time.

In his directive, Inslee told state agencies that they must still maintain “safe and healthy workplaces and communities” going forward.

“We must continue to take steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 and minimize the risk of serious illness and death,” Inslee said.

He advised state employees to stay home when they feel sick, wear a fitted face mask if they’ve been exposed to the virus and stay up-to-date on their vaccine shots.

To incentivize vaccinations, the release says the state will offer $1,000 to eligible employees who share proof of up-to-date vaccinations. This incentive will be available starting July 25.

The state’s Office of Financial Management will notify employee unions about the directive and negotiate relevant changes to their collective bargaining agreements, according to the release.