Bellingham’s mayor lifted his executive order mandating COVID-19 vaccines for city employees, volunteers and on-site indoor contractors, effective 11:59 p.m. Feb. 13.
Mayor Seth Fleetwood announced the end of the vaccine mandate that evening at a city council meeting. The mayor made his decision after determining the risk of another winter surge of the disease was unlikely.
“At every step in addressing the pandemic, we sought recommendations from public health officials, followed the science and the data, and took thoughtful, measured steps to protect public health,” he said in a Feb. 13 news release.
“COVID-19 is becoming endemic, meaning that it is no longer causing significant disruption in our daily lives, such as overwhelming our hospitals and closing down schools and businesses,” the mayor added.
Fleetwood issued an emergency order in September 2021 requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, following similar actions by the state and federal governments. Gov. Jay Inslee has since made the vaccine mandate for state employees permanent.
After Bellingham’s mandate took effect on Dec. 3, 2021, 10 police officers lost their jobs after opting against the shots. At least 29 employees resigned or were terminated citywide, according to data provided by the mayor’s office and the Bellingham Police Department.
Skagit and Whatcom counties never imposed vaccine requirements on their employees, according to county spokespeople — although health care workers in the county workforce would have fallen under a state vaccine mandate.
Recent data shows 374 people have died of COVID-19 in Whatcom County since the pandemic began in early 2020, according to the county COVID-19 dashboard. Currently in the United States, more than 3,000 people are dying of COVID-19 every week, according to The New York Times.
“Staying up to date with vaccination is supported and encouraged, as it is highly effective at reducing the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death,” Fleetwood said.
The mayor said the city would continue to monitor guidance from Whatcom County, the state and the federal government to determine whether future restrictions or mandates are necessary to protect public health.
