New Bedford to require COVID vaccine for city government employees

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) – New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell announced Friday that all city government employees will be required to get the coronavirus vaccine.

Municipal employees who decide not to get the vaccine can choose to be regularly tested for COVID.

The City says a policy detailing the requirements will be released soon, and that the policy will address “reasonable accommodations that will be provided for medical and religious reasons.”

“With its lower vaccination rates, Greater New Bedford is especially vulnerable to the Delta variant,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. “We’ve made the vaccines readily available, but to ensure that the vulnerable in our region are fully protected, we need to do more. By requiring the City’s employees to be vaccinated, we can protect our workforce and their families, and encourage other employers to follow suit.”

According to the Mayor’s Office, this requirement does not extend to New Bedford Public Schools or the New Bedford Port Authority. The City will also work with public unions to ensure the policy conforms with collective bargaining agreements.