As we previously posted, the City of Philadelphia is mandating healthcare workers and those who work, volunteer, or attend classes at higher education institutions in the city receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The initial deadline for all covered individuals to be vaccinated or have a medical or religious exemption was October 15, 2021.
On October 6, 2021, the City announced an extension of the deadline. According to the Health Department, this extension is to ensure that healthcare institutions and area universities are not left shorthanded and can keep operating at full capacity while waiting for people to get vaccinated.
Updated Deadlines:
- Healthcare staff in hospitals and long-term care facilities and everyone in higher education settings must receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by October 15 and submit to regular testing. Health care workers must undergo testing twice per week. Higher education staff and students have the option of one PCR test or two antigen (rapid) tests each week.
- Both healthcare workers in hospitals and long-term care facilities and higher education staff and students must receive their second dose by November 15.
- Healthcare workers outside of hospitals and long term care facilities have until October 22 to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Until fully vaccinated, they must be tested using rapid or PCR testing twice per week.
- All healthcare workers must receive their second dose by November 22.
Employers may choose to continue enforcing any earlier mandatory vaccination deadlines. Ballard Spahr’s labor and employment team is ready to assist any employers implementing a mandatory vaccination program that complies with the City’s Emergency Regulation.