Bucks County government and the county courts system will be requiring employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
In emails to the county staff and court staff, officials announced Wednesday that workers will have to get at least one dose of a vaccine or have an exemption by September 17. Employees must be fully vaccinated by October 29.
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“Those who do not comply with the vaccine mandate will be released from employment. Vaccination also will be required for all new hires,” a statement from officials said.
“The County Commissioners, after careful consideration, have unanimously agreed that all employees be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, especially in light of the rising number of infections caused by the delta variant,” the email from county Chief Operations Officer Margie McKevitt to staff said.
Court employees were told the Common Pleas judges agreed to require vaccinations, according to the all staff email sent by Court Administrator Steve Heckman at the direction of President Judge Wallace Bateman.
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Recently, the county and courts began collecting vaccination information from employees, but no mandates were put in pace until Wednesday.
“When you work for your local, county, state or federal government, the job comes with an inherent duty and commitment to protect and serve the public,” said Bucks County Commissioners Chairperson Diane Ellis-Marseglia “Getting vaccinated protects not just our employees – and we need healthy employees in order to assist the public – but also serves to strengthen our community’s resistance to this killer virus, keeping everyone safe, keeping kids in school, and keeping businesses open.”
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“We ask for your cooperation in ensuring that you, your fellow employees and the citizens of Bucks County are as safe as possible in this difficult time. This will require a team effort from all of us,” Heckman said in his email to staff.
The county has been hosting vaccination clinics for employees and will allow two hours of comp time for staff to get vaccinated during work hours.
Court and county employees that provide proof of vaccination will get a comp day to use within one year.
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Employees who are granted an exemption from being vaccinated will have to wear masks at all times and have to get tested for COVID-19.
The county employs 2,400 people.
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In their statement to the press, county officials said they will be working to make sure vendors and contractors in government facilities are vaccinated.
The county previous mandated vaccinations for staff at the Neshaminy Manor Nursing Home and the Bucks County Department of Corrections.
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