YMCA of Honolulu employees and volunteers will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or provide weekly test results, the organization has announced today.

The requirement will go into effect Oct. 1, and follows Gov. David Ige’s recent announcement that also requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination or regular testing for state and city employees.

“While vaccinations are the leading public health strategy and best way to stay and keep others safe, we understand there may be personal situations not to vaccinate,” said Greg Waibel, president and CEO of the YMCA of Honolulu, in a statement. “To acknowledge these situations, we are requiring those who choose not to be vaccinated, to provide weekly COVID-19 test results.”

YMCA of Honolulu is working with Kaiser Permanente to provide free clinics at its facilities. They will offer the Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccines, and the vaccinations will be free and open to the public, with walk-in appointments accepted.

“The safety of our employees, volunteers and those we serve is our highest priority,” said Waibel. “Since the start of this pandemic, our Y has followed COVID-19 mitigation safety CDC and State guidelines. Now requiring our employees and program volunteers to be fully vaccinated or to be tested weekly adds an additional layer of safety and protection.”

Upcoming clinics will be at the Miliani YMCA at 95-1190 Hikikaulia St. and the Nuuanu YMCA at 1441 HI-61, at the Pali Highway.

The Mililani clinic is scheduled for Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Nuuanu clinics will be held on three Mondays — Aug. 23, Sept. 13 and Oct. 4. All will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.