Patrons must show proof of vaccination at many public indoor establishments in Washington, D.C., including restaurants, bars, gyms and entertainment venues. 

The vaccine mandate went into effect Jan. 15 in an attempt to decrease the transmission of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 as cases reach record highs in the District. Patrons who are 12 years old and older must provide proof of at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and those who are 18 years old and older must also show a valid photo identification before entering establishments. Beginning Feb. 15, full vaccination, not including booster shots, will be required. 

Retail establishments, grocery stores, houses of worship and health care facilities are among the locations where patrons do not have to show proof of vaccination. 

About 68% of District residents are fully vaccinated and 89% of District residents are at least partially vaccinated, making them eligible to be indoors in vaccine-restricted public spaces. 

José Espinal, marketing coordinator at El Centro, a popular Mexican restaurant in the Georgetown neighborhood, hopes that the vaccine mandate will ultimately increase business by making customers feel safer in public spaces.

“I think most businesses will be able to adapt to the mandate,” Espinal wrote in an email to The Hoya. “I think a lot of patrons were similarly concerned about rising cases, so I think this will alleviate some of their concerns about going out.”

Venues that serve alcohol and violate the vaccine mandate will face two warnings from the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, with third and fourth violations resulting in $1,000 and $2,000 fines. A fifth violation of the vaccination mandate will result in establishments facing the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, leading to the possible suspension of their liquor license.

The Big Board, a bar located in the H Street Corridor neighborhood, became the first establishment in the District to receive a verbal warning for not requiring proof of vaccination or posting appropriate signage. The bar came under scrutiny for a tweet last week stating that everyone is welcome despite the mandate. 

Communication to patrons in advance of the vaccine mandate’s implementation made the transition easy and safe for entertainment venues, according to Jordan Silberman, general manager of Capital One Arena. 

“We had a great system in place to comply with the Mayor Bowser’s vaccination mandate,” Silberman wrote in an email to The Hoya. “We proactively messaged to our guests about the new policy, instituted the use of the CLEAR Health Pass App (which we had previously used for some concerts last year), and had knowledgeable staff who were able to help fans quickly and safely into the arena.”

Individuals can show proof of vaccination with an official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination card, a digital photo of their vaccination card or a COVID-19 vaccination app, such as CLEAR. Individuals with medical or religious exemptions must bring proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken in the past 24 hours.

According to Zayan Baig (NHS ’25), who lives in the Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area and visits the Georgetown neighborhood frequently even when not on campus, the vaccine mandate will help students feel comfortable when they leave campus, where the student vaccination rate is 98% and booster shots are required.

“Even though we are in the greater D.C. area, I have some comfort knowing that within our Georgetown bubble, most everyone on campus is vaccinated and that should contribute to a little bit of herd immunity, at least on the campus level,” Baig said in an interview with The Hoya. “I personally have no problem with having to show vaccine cards, I think it helps with feeling a little bit safer.”

The vaccine mandate should help keep employees, patrons and District residents safer, according to Espinal. 
“There is always some challenge with new regulations, but our team has been so great at adapting to all the ups and downs of the past two years,” Espinal wrote. “I’m confident that they’ll be able to adapt to this change as well. Hopefully, this new change will help push DC’s vaccination rate up.”