On Monday, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock ordered all city employees -- including board members, elected officials, library staff and court employees like judges -- to get vaccinated.
However, the city has no idea what percentage of its employees are already fully vaccinated.
A spokesperson said that a recent survey showed over 70 percent of employees intend to do so, but information like the date of the survey, or how many employees participated, wasn't included.
City employees will have until Sept. 30 to provide their vaccination records in compliance with the public health order. If they don't, Hancock said his administration will try to work with employees but he would "put his foot down" if necessary. People with faith-based or medical reasons for avoiding the vaccine may be accommodated, but employees refusing the vaccine for other reasons could face termination.
"The Office of Human Resources will collect the information and provide reminders to employees throughout the process," the city said in a statement Friday. It will launch an education campaign over the next few weeks to encourage vaccination amongst employees.
At the recent State of the City address, Hancock used profanity, saying the media's questions about people losing their jobs are misguided. He said the public health order was about protecting those who are high-risk and educating those who are eligible.
"It's not about firing folks. It's about compliance," he said. "That's what the mandate was about."
