Vaccine mandates work.
That was the message from New York Governor Kathy Hochul Monday as a mandate impacting health care workers went into effect statewide.
Bloomberg breaks down the numbers:
About 92% of nursing home staff in New York had received at least one vaccine dose as of Monday evening, up from 70% on Aug. 15, before the vaccine mandate was announced, according to the governor’s office. And 84% of hospital staff were fully inoculated as of Sept. 22, up from 77% on Aug. 10, according to state data.
The New York Times adds, “while thousands more workers remained unvaccinated, and thus in danger of being suspended or fired, the rush of last-minute vaccinations appeared to blunt the worst-case scenarios for staffing shortages that some institutions had feared.”
Still, even a small number of absences will likely strain hospital systems already reeling from a difficult 18 months. And a concentrated number of holdouts can create challenges for specific hospitals. More from The Times:
At the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, 20 percent of staff at its affiliated nursing home, Terrace View, were placed on unpaid leave on Monday for refusing vaccination, a spokesman said. The hospital said it was doing its best to make up for the reduction by transferring staff in from other facilities, reducing beds at the nursing home and suspending some elective surgeries at the hospital.
On Monday, Hochul signed an executive order allowing out-of-state and retired health care workers to fill any gaps in New York. She also gave herself the authority to dispatch the National Guard to assist with any staffing shortfalls.
“My job No. 1 in this state is to keep people safe,” she said.
In New York City, a vaccine mandate impacting public schools was given the green light by a three-judge panel on Monday. The mandate was originally set to go into effect on Tuesday, but teachers, cafeteria workers, and other school workers now have until Friday at 5 p.m. to get their first jab or get placed on unpaid leave.
“By Monday morning, 100% of staff will be vaccinated,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a briefing, noting that principals have an extra weekend to find substitute teachers. Ten thousand are already on standby, which de Blasio says will be more than enough to fill any gaps.
de Blasio added that daily vaccinations in the city have increased by 45% since mandates were introduced in July.
“Vaccine mandates not only work, but they are winning in court,” de Blasio said. “People respond to deadlines.”
