Inslee Unwilling to Lift State Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate

Governor Jay Inslee told reporters Friday that he will not be lifting the Washington's COVID-19 vaccination mandate for state employees despite the vaccination mandate for large events ending last week.

Inslee, who was asked if he was considering announcing an end to the mandate like Oregon Governor Kate Brown did last week, shifted focus to what he calls a Republican failure to respond to COVID.

"Apparently they are continuing on that track." said Inslee, "They tried to stop us from saving lives by wearing masks, they tried to stop a way to get our people vaccinated so they wouldn't die and they are just continuing on that track unfortunately. Unfortunately they have not been a positive force in this regard."

Inslee said that there could be a day when the mandate goes away and his office "will have further discussions."

The governor added that the vaccine is just as important today as it was a month ago.