The deadline has arrived for city workers across Pasadena to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or request an exemption from city officials.
All city employees, including police officers and firefighters, will have to provide proof that they got the jab, according to city code.
Those who wish to go without are able to request an exemption or deferral. If approved, they will then have to submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.
KNX reached out to the city to learn how city employees can request an exemption and on what grounds they will be granted. We will update the story when the city responds.
So far, a large percentage of the city’s more than 2,000 employees has already reported and submitted documents.
City Manager Steve Mermell told KNX that as of this morning, 76 percent of workers provided proof of full or partial vaccination and 8.5 percent have asked for an exemption. That leaves about 300 city workers have until 5 p.m. Friday to submit their paperwork.
City spokesperson Lisa Derderian said the city will not know exactly how many have been vaccinated until later Friday.
“Some may wait until the last minute today [to submit vaccination proof], but we hope we’re setting an example for what’s the right thing to do,” Derderian said. “We have an obligation to help our community, our city employees. They interact with each other on a daily basis and in emergency situations.”
Mermell has already spoken with the Human Resources Department about what will happen if an employee flat out refuses to get vaccinated, according to Derderian. She added that if that happens -- it will be considered a personnel matter and city officials will not be able to release any details to the public.
Mermell told KNX that the city is not at that stage yet.
“We haven’t gone down that path yet because all of that would occur after today’s deadline. So after today, those employees that have not shown that they are either partially or fully vaccinated or who have not requested a medical or religious exemption, we will be following up with them and we would start the progressive discipline process,” said Mermell.
Mermell anticipates the largest number of employees who will request an exemption will come from its police department, but he said the number will nowhere near as big as close to 3,000 LAPD employees who want permission to skip the jab.
In an update this week, the city announced that more than half the 12 and older population of Pasadena has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 94.4 percent of residents have gotten at least one vaccine dose.
To learn more about vaccination in the, or find a vaccination site, click here.
Pasadena’s mandate follows that of Los Angeles, which will go into effect in October.
Last month the Los Angeles City Council approved the ordinance requiring vaccinations for all city employees. Similar to Pasadena, employees will be able to apply for exemptions.
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