All health care workers in New York State will be required to get vaccinated, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The COVID-19 vaccination requirement will be in place by Monday, Sept. 27, and applies to hospital workers, staff at long-term care facilities, and workers at nursing homes, adult care and “other congregate settings.”
Cuomo announced the mandate Monday, citing concerns over the Delta variant, and sharing on his website that the State Department of Health will issue Section 16 Orders requiring facilities like hospitals to develop a vaccination-mandate policy. Exceptions can be made for those with medical or religious reasons.
Of the state’s 450,000 hospital workers, 75% are already fully vaccinated, while 74% of the state’s 30,000 adult care facility workers, and 68% of the state’s 145,500 nursing home workers are also fully vaccinated.
“Our healthcare heroes led the battle against the virus, and now we need them to lead the battle between the variant and the vaccine,” Cuomo said. “We have always followed the science, and we’re doing so again today, with these recommendations by Dr. Zucker and federal and state health experts.”
Before the announcement, incoming Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration was briefed, as Cuomo announced his resignation last week following a State Attorney General probe that found he sexually harassed multiple women.
The latest mandate comes days after the FDA approved booster shots for certain immunocompromised people, who remain at higher risk, via an amendment of the emergency use authorizations.
“Today’s action allows doctors to boost immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from COVID-19,” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said. “As we’ve previously stated, other individuals who are fully vaccinated are adequately protected and do not need an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine at this time.”
