First deadline for Orange County employees to get COVID-19 vaccine fast approaching

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he is trying to save lives.

Four county employees have recently died from the virus, and there are several county employees “who are now in critical care units and are still very, very sick,” Demings said.

That’s why he’s requiring all employees to get vaccinated or face termination.

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The first of two deadlines is under a week away.

All employees must have their initial vaccine dose or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Tuesday.

The county said the county is at 66% of its non-union employees being vaccinated, up from the 40% vaccinated Tuesday.

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The Orange County Sheriff’s Office does not fall under the county’s mandate, but Sheriff John Mina shared a video strongly encouraging employees to get the shot.

See the video below:

Mina said 240 law enforcement officers died from COVID-19 last year, “more than all other line-of-duty deaths combined.”

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