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Yakima County 4-H COVID-19 Response

Posted by alison.white | July 7, 2021

Vaccine Requirement 10-21-2022, COVID-19 vaccine requirement for volunteers in educational settings

Per the Governor, the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for volunteers in educational settings ends on October 31st. Therefore, after the 31st, volunteers will no longer need to verify their COVID-19 vaccination status or receive a medical/religious exemption to enroll as a 4-H volunteer.

If you have any questions about this change, please get in touch with the local office. 509-574-1600, yakima.4h@wsu.edu.

A memo from Vicki McCracken, Associate Dean and Director of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, can be downloaded here.

Proclamation 21-14.1 and 4-H Volunteers,

View the 4-H Volunteer Vaccination Policy Update Letter (PDF)

Link to page for 4-H Volunteer Vaccination Exemption: https://extension.wsu.edu/volunteer-exemption/

More information on WSU’s Vaccination Policy is available on the web at https://extension.wsu.edu/vaccination-policy/.

Questions regarding WSU’s Vaccination Policy can be directed via e-mail to extension.vaccinepolicy@wsu.edu

Please contact Jenny Loyd at (509 )574-1600 for any questions you have for your local office.

In-Person Meeting Resources

RESUMPTION OF 4-H IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES UPDATE

On June 30, 2021, Governor Inslee reopened Washington under the Washington Ready plan.

4-H COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS
UPDATED MARCH 12, 2022

Washington State University has adopted the Governor’s updated mask policy which is effective March 12, 2022.  This policy eliminates the general masking requirement in both indoor and outdoor situations, unless specifically required for a particular location for health reasons (such as clinics).  Also eliminated is the general requirement for social distancing among vaccinated individuals.  WSU has extended the relaxation of the masking and distancing requirements to those employees who have exemptions from the vaccine requirement (for religious or medical reasons) and have approved accommodations at their workplace.

WSU Extension has therefore adopted the following:

Vaccination Requirements Continue

The vaccine mandate for WSU employees and volunteers remains in place. WSU employees and volunteers must be fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption with an accommodation on file to engage in work with WSU Extension.

Masking Policy Changes

WSU Extension has adopted the Governor’s mask policy effective March 12, 2022.  This policy eliminates the general masking requirement in both indoor and outdoor situations, unless specifically required for a particular location such as health care settings and public transportation.  This extends to individuals who have an approved accommodation based on a medical or religious exemption, who no longer are required to wear a mask as a condition of that accommodation.

Social Distancing Changes

WSU Extension applies the relaxation of social distancing requirements to those volunteers who are fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption with an accommodation (for religious or medical reasons) on file at their workplace or county office.

PLEASE NOTE – individual offices and locations may continue to require masking and/or distancing at the office level for all office programs in light of local risks and conditions.

 

GOVERNOR INSLEE’S VACCINATION PROCLAMATION

Announcement Revised September 7, 2021

Governor Jay Inslee issued a health and safety proclamation on August 20, 2021, in response to a continued state of emergency that exists in all counties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The health and safety proclamation, as ordered by the Governor, includes employees, contractors and volunteers engaged in activities with state agencies and in educational settings. Therefore, WSU (including WSU Extension and the 4-H program) is required to comply with Governor Inslee’s recent vaccination proclamation directives.

With regard to volunteers, below are a series of references, deadlines and explanations that provide further details.

  • The Proclamation (21-14.1) can be found HERE.
  • Deadline: All current WSU Volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated or exempted by October 18th. Volunteers who are not fully vaccinated or who do not have an approved exemption on file by October 18 will be put on inactive status. They will not be able to engage in any volunteer activities with WSU Extension until proof of full vaccination can be observed or until an exemption request has been reviewed.
  • Proof of vaccination: Contact your local 4-H office for information on how to share proof of your vaccination status..
  • Exemption process: The state-level exemption process (for religious or medical reasons) can be found at https://extension.wsu.edu/volunteer-exemption/https://extension.wsu.edu/volunteer-exemption/

More information on WSU’s Vaccination Policy is available on the web at https://extension.wsu.edu/vaccination-policy/.

Questions regarding WSU’s Vaccination Policy can be directed via e-mail to extension.vaccinepolicy@wsu.edu