Bellingham’s mayor is lifting his executive order mandating COVID-19 vaccines for city employees, volunteers and on-site indoor contractors, effective 11:59 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13.
Mayor Seth Fleetwood announced the end of the vaccine mandate shortly before 8 p.m. Monday 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 Monday night 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,” Fleetwood added.
In Whatcom County, 374 people have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in early 2020, according to a New York Times pandemic tracker. 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.
