Employee Vaccine Requirement

In late August 2021, Governor Inslee mandated that all state employees (WWCC faculty and staff are state employees) be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved medical or religious exemption and accommodation as a condition of employment. To comply with the Governor’s directive, employees are required to:

Receive two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine; or
Receive one shot of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

New employees will be provided with instructions on completing an attestation form and showing proof of vaccination. Medical and religious exemption requests are thoroughly reviewed to determine if a temporary accommodation can be granted that does not place undue burdens on students, employees and the college, and does not put others at increased risk of infection. Medical Exemption forms must be completed by a healthcare provider. Please note that the Governor’s proclamation eliminated philosophical exemptions.

Free COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

Click here to view additional vaccination clinics throughout the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are face coverings and physical distancing required?

In accordance with the Governor’s office and CDC advise, face coverings and physical distancing are recommended, but no longer required.

What does “fully vaccinated” mean?

As defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an individual is not considered to be “fully vaccinated” until two weeks after receiving the second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks following the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson / Janssen vaccine.

Why was my exemption request or accommodation not approved?

Medical and religious exemption requests are thoroughly reviewed to determine if a temporary accommodation can be granted that does not place undue burdens on students, employees and the college, and does not put others at increased risk of infection.

Can students receive an exemption for philosophical reasons?

No. Under current state rules, employees may only request exemption from COVID-19 vaccination for medical or religious reasons.

What happens if a student is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19?

In the event of a suspected or confirmed case within our campus community, WWCC may contact the local health department for guidance and identify/notify students and employees who have been in close contact with the infected individual on campus. Close contact is defined as someone the infected person had face-to-face contact with within 6 feet for a cumulative total of more than 15 minutes within a 24-hour period. The college will also initiate cleaning and disinfecting protocols where needed. WWCC will keep confidential the name of the person who tested positive. Full details are described in the 2021-22 Safe Return to Campus Plan.