The Astros and Nationals issued mandates on Friday that all of their non-playing, full-time employees must receive the COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the first two teams to make the vaccination a factor of employment, according to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan.
The Nationals told their employees on Aug. 12 that they would need to show proof of vaccination by Aug. 26 or offer a medical or religious exemption as reasons for not taking the vaccine. Houston became the first franchise to require compulsory vaccinations for its MLB team as well as the three minor-league teams owned by the organization.