Vaccine Mandate for Regional Center Staff and Service Providers

California State’s Public Health Officer issued a new public health order (PHO) available here.

Welfare and Institutions (W&I) Code section 4639.6 authorizes the Director of the Department of Developmental Services (Department) to issue directives to regional centers as the Director deems necessary to protect consumer rights, health, safety, or welfare, or in accordance with W&I Code section 4434. Regional centers must comply with any directive issued by the Director pursuant to this section.

The PHO requires full vaccination (defined as one dose of a one-dose vaccine, or both doses of two-dose vaccines) of the following individuals by November 30, 2021:

a. All workers who provide services or work in Adult and Senior Care Facilities licensed by the California Department of Social Services;

b. All in-home direct care services workers, including registered home care aides and certified home health aides, except for those workers who only provide services to a recipient with whom they live or who are a family member of the recipient for whom they provide services;

c. All waiver personal care services (WPCS) providers, as defined by the California Department of Health Care Services, and in-home supportive services (IHSS) providers, as defined by the California Department of Social Services, except for those workers who only provide services to a recipient with whom they live or who are a family member of the recipient for whom they provide services;

d. All hospice workers who are providing services in the home or in a licensed facility; and

e. All regional center employees, as well as service provider workers, who provide services to a consumer through the network of Regional Centers serving individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, except for those workers who only provide services to a recipient with whom they live or who are a family member of the recipient for whom they provide services.

Exemptions and Recordkeeping 

The PHO allows specified exemptions for religious beliefs and qualified medical reasons. If a worker is exempted, they must be tested for COVID-19 once per week and wear at least a surgical mask.

If a worker is exempted, their employer must retain a record of the exemption and each worker’s test results.

Employers, and in some cases the worker, must retain a record of vaccination for each employee.

Please read the PHO for more detail about these exemptions and requirements.

Other Information 

The California Department of Public Health’s vaccine record guidelines & standards, including how to obtain records and provide proof of vaccination, among other topics, is found here.

The Department’s September 15, 2021 letter provides information about how to subscribe to facility letters issued by the California Department of Public Health and California Department of Social Services. These departments regularly issue instructions and information which may be helpful.

DDS Directive- State Public Health Office Order Regarding Worker Vaccination Mandate

Department of Developmental Services Directives