Gov. Kathy Hochul said she is prepared to call on medically trained National Guard members, retirees and workers from outside of New York to address potential staff shortages caused by the upcoming vaccination mandate for the health workers.
If necessary, Hochul said, he will declare a state of emergency through an executive order designed to address staff shortages in hospitals and nursing homes once the mandate takes effect on Monday.
Many healthcare workers have yet to receive the mandatory first injection of the COVID-19 vaccine before the deadline, leaving the prospect of potentially thousands of healthcare workers being forced to leave work.
The order would allow healthcare professionals licensed in other states or countries, recently graduated or who have previously practiced healthcare professionals, to practice in New York, Hochul said, noting that it is exploring ways to streamline visa applications for medical professionals.
The governor said she also has the option of deploying members of the National Guard and partnering with the federal government to deploy disaster medical assistance teams.
Hospitals across the state have been preparing contingency plans that included reducing elective surgeries. Many nursing homes were limiting income.
“Right now we are approximately 84% vaccinated statewide, so any initiative the governor can take to increase the workforce is welcome and necessary,” said Stephen Hanse, who represents nursing homes across the entire state. the state as president of the New York State Health Facilities Association and New York State Center for Assisted Living.
Hochul, a Democrat, has resisted calls to delay the term, and his last-minute announcement could increase pressure on those who resist receiving the vaccine. He said workers fired for refusing to be vaccinated are not entitled to unemployment insurance without a request for a medical accommodation approved by a doctor.
Hochul also announced in a social media post that booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine were now available in New York for those who received the Pfizer vaccine as their primary vaccine and are 65 or older or 50 or older with conditions. underlying medical conditions. Recipients must have received their second dose at least six months ago.
“We want New Yorkers to get a booster dose as easily as possible and will provide further guidance and details in the coming days,” the governor wrote.
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