Park workforce must be fully vaccinated by December 15th
Today, Chicago Park District Interim General Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño notified the District’s workforce that all employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 15, 2021, unless they have an approved medical or religious exemption. The Park District joins other government agencies and municipalities, including the City of Chicago, to implement an employee vaccine mandate to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
“Implementing a vaccine mandate for park employees is an important step in keeping our workforce, parks and patrons safe,” said Interim Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño. “We must do our part to help ensure families that our parks are safe destinations for their children and contribute to the overall well-being of their communities.”
Being fully vaccinated while continuing safety practices such as wearing masks, washing hands frequently and social distancing - has proven to be the most effective measure in preventing the spread of COVID-19. A vaccinated workforce will help make sure park facilities are as safe as possible for employees to work and for park patrons to enjoy.
The District’s policy requires that all employees who provide proof that they are fully vaccinated by December 15, 2021 shall receive one (1) additional personal day that must be used by June 30, 2022. Staff who receive an exemption or are not fully vaccinated by December 15th will need to undergo regular COVID-19 testing.
The District’s notification of the policy to employees will be wide-spread including a virtual webinar of the policy to ensure employees have full understanding of the requirements and locations where employees can access the vaccine.
“Fully vaccinated” means two weeks past the second dose of a two-dose mRNA vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna) or two weeks past a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Employees will be asked to submit their proof of vaccination via a secure and online COVID-19 Vaccine Portal.
Information on the Chicago Park District’s COVID-19 response, including the employee vaccine requirement, can be found here. Information on the City of Chicago’s COVID-19 response plan, including the latest guidance from the Chicago Department of Public Health, can be found here.
More than 74 percent (more than 1.7 million) of eligible Chicago residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are widely available at pharmacies, health care offices, and through special events across the City at no cost to the public. No insurance or government ID is required to receive a vaccination. To learn more, visit Chicago.gov/COVIDvax or call 312-746-4835.