In order to protect the health and safety of its workplaces. as well as curb the spread of COVID-19 in the community, Culver City has announced that it is establishing a mandatory vaccination policy for city employees, contractors, volunteers and interns.

"It is the city's duty to provide a healthy work environment and to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our employees, their families, our customers, visitors, and the community at large from COVID-19," said City Manager John Nachbar, announcing the forthcoming policy.

In the coming days, Culver City will release details on the policy, including the date by which all 823 city employees, as well as its contractors, volunteers, and interns must be vaccinated, said city officials in a statement.

Prior to that, city officials will meet with the employee labor groups to discuss the negotiable effects of this requirement, according to the statement. "In the meantime, for their own health and safety, Culver City is continuing to encourage all city employees, contractors, volunteers and interns to get vaccinated as soon as possible, even before any mandatory policy is in place."

In September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to provide full approval to the Pfizer vaccine and approval to the other two vaccines shortly thereafter. All three vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson) have been deemed safe and effective at preventing serious illness and death caused by COVID-19 infection.

City officials are encouraging all community members to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as possible. In support of that goal, the city has sponsored six vaccination opportunities for its employees, one vaccination opportunity for two senior living facilities, and two pop-up vaccination clinics for the general public. The Culver City Fire Department has also vaccinated 20 homebound Culver City residents.

Local residents and workers can find a walk-in vaccination clinic or make a vaccine appointment at https://myturn.ca.gov/.