Oregon’s vaccine mandate? Some employers granted exceptions to every worker who asked

A health official draws from a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine

Oregon's COVID-19 vaccination mandate for health care workers, K-12 school employees and state executive branch workers took effect Oct. 18, 2021. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP, Pool, File photo)AP

Thousands of Oregon healthcare employees, K-12 educators and state workers who were told they must get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 18 or risk losing their jobs found an easy way out: They applied for religious or medical exceptions.

While some employers rigorously scrutinized these requests and accepted only a smaller number they determined to be sincere, many other employers in especially rural, vaccine-reluctant parts of the state gave the nod to every employee who asked for one.

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