Club rolls back vaccine requirement for entry

The National Press Club will no longer require coronavirus vaccination for members and guests who enter the facility beginning Thursday, Sept. 1.

Shortly after the Club reopened for in-person activities in June 2021, it instituted a vaccination check. Anyone entering the Club had to be vaccinated. The Club is the last institution in Washington, D.C., to end the vaccination policy.

“We found during the busy spring that checking every guest required significant human resources and caused delays at key times," said Club President Jen Judson. "We felt we should change now as we head into the busy fall season to facilitate entry to the Club for members and guests."

The Club will continue to recommend that people who enter be vaccinated and that those who are not wear masks. But it will be a recommendation, not a rule.

“While most clients appreciated the vaccination checks, there were certain organizations and states that had internal rules against doing events at venues with vaccine checks," said Club Executive Director Bill McCarren. "They will now be able to return to the Club with their events."     

The Club could reinstitute the vaccine-check policy if there is a serious spike in the coronavirus in the fall or winter due to new variants.