Massachusetts state senators, staff ordered to provide proof of vaccination by October

The Massachusetts state Senate is requiring senators and their staff to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination by October, The Boston Globe reported on Wednesday.

State Senate President Karen Spilka (D) reportedly said in a letter to colleagues that staffers could face termination if they decline to get vaccinated. 

Spilka also said that lawmakers are creating a compliance policy that will limit medical and religious exemptions and enforcement mechanisms as well, according to the Globe. 

The new mandate, which applies to all 40 state senators and more than 200 staffers, follows one Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) sent out last week requiring 44,000 state employees to be vaccinated. 

“Vaccines have proven to be the best tool we have to reduce transmission and are our best hope to emerge from this pandemic,” Spilka wrote in her letter.

The Massachusetts state House is expected to issue a similar mandate, The Associated Press reported.

This comes as the U.S. is currently dealing with another wave of coronavirus infections, with the highly contagious delta variant hitting the unvaccinated hard. 

Multiple Massachusetts officials including Attorney General Maura Healey (D), Auditor Suzanne Bump (D) and Treasurer Deborah Goldberg (D) have also issued vaccination requirements for their offices, the Globe noted.