New York State Mandates Vaccinations of all Healthcare Workers

     Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who will be leaving office on Aug. 24, announced today that all New York state healthcare workers, including the staff of all hospitals and long-term healthcare facilities will be required to get their COVID vaccinations by Monday, Sept. 27.

     To date, 25% of the state’s healthcare workers remain unvaccinated, according to the governor's statement.

     The long-term facilities included the governor’s mandate are nursing homes, institutions that provide adult care, and other facilities that provide healthcare to many people.

     Additionally, the state’s Department of Health will issue orders that require all hospitals, long-term care facilities, and nursing homes to develop and implement a policy that mandates the vaccination of employees.

     Medical or religious objections will be the only exceptions to the state’s mandate, which should not affect most of the state’s 450,000 hospital workers, 30,000 adult care facility workers, and 145,500 nursing home workers: only 74 to 75% of which have already received their shots.

     Before the Gov. Cuomo announced New York's mandate to vaccinate all healthcare workers, his office briefed Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who will serve as the state’s governor after he steps down in eight days after resigning because of 11 charges of harassement.

(Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of the Governor)