The Board of Supervisors unanimously ratified on Tuesday the executive order issued by Chair Hilda Solis that requires all Los Angeles County employees to show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 1. The board also approved exemptions for medical and religious reasons.
The Board of Supervisors' approval of the executive order means the county's more than 110,000 employees will have less than two months to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.
A motion from Supervisors Janice Hahn and Sheila Kuehl that would require county employees to get vaccinated or undergo weekly testing also passed.
The board will next ask county departments to create a plan within 15 days to develop a testing program for workers who are not vaccinated due to religious or medical exemptions.
The testing option should address some of the concerns of labor partners, who criticized the executive order for failing to provide alternatives to receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.
Kuehl said ahead of the meeting that she would want that testing option for non-exempt employees to end on Oct. 1.
"I've completely, completely lost patience with people simply saying, ‘Oh, I don’t want to be vaccinated,’" she said.
Hahn pointed out that some county employee unions want a testing option.
“Labor was a little concerned about the out-right mandate and definitely would like some space in this executive order to allow for testing," said Hahn.
Kuehl said she's more concerned about county workers' well-being than keeping labor leaders happy.
The meeting has drawn considerable attention with the board receiving more than 34,000 written comments ahead of the meeting.
Supervisors will also consider a proposal to require proof of vaccination for some indoor public spaces.