Governor Kathy Hochul is forging ahead with the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers on Monday, despite the fear in worker shortages being a consequence.
Hochul addressed the publicon the topic, saying she hopes people choose to get the vaccine and aren’t choosing to be unfair toward their coworkers and the patients in their care.
Hospital and nursing home leaders are asking Hochul to allow for testing as an option and to have plans in place for if and when they lose workers.
Hospitals report that 85% of their workforce is currently vaccinated, a 4% increase from Sept. 15.
Nursing homes report 83% of their workforce is vaccinated, up 1% from Sunday.
Around 72,000 hospital workers and 24,650 nursing home employees remain unvaccinated.
Hospital leaders continue to ask Hochul’s administration for plans on how to handle a worker shortage, and clear guidelines have yet to be released.
Hochul mentioned boosting overtimes rates, but leaders want more specific plans.
The state and its residents are waiting for the federal judge that temporarily blocked the mandate over religious exemptions to make a decision, and the judge said it would be made by Oct. 12.
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