Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue Statement on Requiring Vaccination Against COVID-19 for Employees
August 17, 2021—For nearly 70 years, child safety has been our top priority at Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue. We day in and day out to create safe, fun environments where kids can realize their full potential, all under the guidance of caring, trained adult leaders. Today, in the midst of global pandemic, keeping our kids safe means using every layer of protection available – face masks, social distancing, and the COVID-19 vaccine – to fight the pandemic so we can move forward.
Beginning October 1, 2021, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue employees, volunteers, and visitors will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. By requiring vaccinations, our goal is to protect the health of our employees, the youth we serve, and the community around us – so that we can continue to create dependable, safe working environments for staff and high-quality youth development experiences for young people.
In reaching this decision, we evaluated the increasing COVID-19 diagnoses in the United States and worldwide and the effectiveness of vaccines in reducing infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. For those employees with religious beliefs or medical conditions that prevent them from getting vaccinated, we will offer appropriate accommodations. Where it is not possible or practical to mandate vaccination, employees will be required to wear an N-95 mask and be tested weekly for COVID-19.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue remains committed to doing whatever it takes to support our kids, families, and communities. Since the earliest days of the pandemic, our work includes 75 weeks of full-day programming, keeping our doors open to children of essential workers to providing more than 105,000 meals to families. Our Clubs will be an integral component in supporting young people and communities as we transition beyond the pandemic, establish new norms, and ensure kids and teens have the access and opportunities needed to thrive.
We look forward to getting our kids back on track to their great futures as safely as we can.