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TO: Adult and Senior Care Facilities and In-Home Direct Care Settings
RE: Mandatory Influenza Vaccination for Workers subject to the CDPH COVID-19 Order dated September 28, 2021
On October 1, 2021, Sonoma County Public Health issued an influenza vaccination order to require all persons working in certain specified health care settings and congregate care facilities to receive an annual influenza vaccination, subject to medical exemptions and religious accommodation, by November 15, 2021. (https://socoemergency.org/order-of-the-health-officer-of-the-county-ofsonoma-mandatory-influenza-vaccination-of-workers-at-health-care-facilities/)
On September 28, 2021, CDPH ordered that “all workers in adult and senior care facilities and in-home direct care settings must be vaccinated [for COVID-19] to reduce the chance of transmission to vulnerable populations.” (https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Orderof-the-State-Public-Health-Officer-Adult-Care-Facilities-and-Direct-Care-Worker-VaccineRequirement.aspx)
This amendment expands the influenza vaccination order to include all workers subject to the CDPH COVID-19 Order dated September 28, 2021. All workers covered by the CDPH COVID-19 Order must also receive an annual influenza vaccination, subject to medical exemptions and religious accommodation, by November 30, 2021.
Legal Authority:
The Health Officer has the authority to “take measures as may be necessary to prevent and control the spread of disease within the territory under their jurisdiction” (Health and Safety Code §120175 et seq.).
Order:
No later than November 15, 2021, all facilities, settings, and individuals subject to the CDPH COVID19 Order dated September 28, 2021, including any future amendments, revisions, or clarification by any state agency, must implement an influenza vaccine verification program through the Duration of this order that requires all workers in adult and senior care facilities and in-home direct care settings to verify that they have received the 2021-22 seasonal influenza vaccine. Facilities Subject to the Order shall maintain all paperwork, including vaccine verifications and exceptions, on file through the Duration of this order.
All workers subject to this order must be in compliance by November 30, 2021.
Duration:
Influenza season starts November 1st and ends May 1st. If influenza surveillance shows unusually early and/or late peaks, the order may be extended.
Facilities Subject to the Order:
All facilities subject to the CDPH COVID-19 Order dated September 28, 2021 are subject to this order.
Exceptions and Accommodations:
Any person granted an exemption according to this section must wear a surgical mask or higher-level respirator approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), such as an N95 filtering facepiece respirator, at all times while in indoor work settings, unless exempted from wearing a face covering under Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards and/or the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Standards.
Facility mandatory influenza vaccination programs may allow for a medical exemption. Medical exemptions must be based upon a written recommendation from the primary health care provider that the person should be medically exempted from receiving an influenza vaccination.
Facility mandatory influenza vaccination programs may also allow requests for accommodation based on disability or religious belief consistent with the facility’s policies and procedures for reasonable accommodation. If a facility grants accommodation due to religious belief or disability, the facility shall provide aggregate data to Sonoma County Public Health every month indicating the number or percentage of accommodations granted.
For any additional questions, please contact Sonoma County Public Health, Disease Control Unit, at PHNurse@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-4567.
Thank you for your role in flattening the curve and protecting our county’s most vulnerable residents.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sundari R. Mase, MD MPH
Health Officer of the County of Sonoma
Date: Nov. 3, 2021