In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History remains committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for visitors and staff. Therefore, beginning November 1, the Museum is requiring that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
As an institution that values science, we stand behind the science that propelled the development of these effective vaccines. We are confident this decision is an appropriate step following the FDA’s full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.
As the Museum serves a variety of audiences, including many children under 12 who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, we have a responsibility to protect visitors on our premises and ensure that their experience is not only fun and educational but safe.
This policy is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and state and local health agencies, and it is designed to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. It also aligns with President Biden's recent directive to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to put in place a policy requiring that all employers with 100 or more employees ensure their staff is vaccinated or tested weekly.
At this time, the new policy does not apply to visitors, vendors, or guests attending special events. We continue to monitor updates to government and public-health guidelines and industry best practices regarding COVID-19 and vaccines as new information becomes available, and will update our policies if needed.
The Museum does require all visitors to wear masks, in accordance with current CDC and Cuyahoga County recommendations.