DC Requiring 12 Year Olds and Up to Have Vaccine Passports Starting in January

(by Brielle Ashford | WUSA9) – DC residents might want to spend some time over the holidays making a vaccine appointment – or else, you’ll have to leave the District to head to happy hour or a team dinner in the new year.

Starting Jan. 15 at 6 a.m., certain D.C. establishments must make sure their patrons who are 12 and older have at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. Come Feb. 15, all patrons will need to have two doses.

“We know very well that it’s not 2020 because of the vaccine. We have a safe and effective vaccine available, Bowser said, adding that the city locked down in 2020 because vaccines weren’t available.

The proof of vaccination requirement includes restaurants, bars and nightclubs, as well as “exercise establishments, indoor cultural and entertainment centers, indoor event and meeting establishments.”

Churches and museums so far are exempt from the new mandate.

When questioned as to why those locales were not included, Bowser said that officials who studied the virus’ spread and determined the mandate covers places of the most concern, where there is the highest risk level.

“We all have a responsibility to keep our community safe and we all have a responsibility to respond to this virus as it presents,” the mayor said.

HOW TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION

Officials also specified that the new rules do not constitute an employer mandate – the requirement currently only applies to patrons.

Individuals can show a physical vaccine card, their immunization records or use a COVID verification app – sometimes referred to as a “vaccine passport” – such as VaxYes or CLEAR to display their status.

The mayor has also not established any testing alternative to the mandate at this time.

“It is true that we’re asking our businesses to do more, but we also think that this is a benefit to their business,” Bowser said. Read Full Article >