Just days before the deadline, the New York State Department of Health declared it would not enforce a booster mandate to health care workers. This was due to staffing shortages.
“To avoid potential staffing problems and allow healthcare workers more time for boosts, the State will not enforce the booster requirement that will be in effect on February 21,” said the department of Health in a Friday statement.
Officials will review the plan within three months to determine “if additional steps are necessary to increase booster rates in the healthcare workforce.”
“The booster and vaccine are crucial tools to keep both healthcare workers safe and their patients safe. We continue to urge everyone get vaccinated, and to receive a booster dose when they are eligible,” Dr. Mary T. Bassett, State Health Commissioner, stated in the announcement.
“While 75% of staff have received their boosters or are willing to, we know that not enough healthcare workers will receive them next week to avoid significant staffing problems in our already stressed healthcare system. We are making additional efforts to collaborate with healthcare facilities to ensure that our healthcare workers are up-to-date on their doses.
Former New York Governor in Disgrace Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, announced a mandate for health care workers last September. It required them to receive the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine before Sept. 27, or they would face termination.
According to Fox News, 31 858 nurses, doctors, and other health professionals were fired, furloughed, or forced to quit because they didn’t comply with the mandate.
Health centers across the state have been plagued by staff shortages, so Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a statewide emergency order in response to staffing shortages in healthcare. The order will expire March 1.
New York’s health leaders demanded that the state rethink its booster plan before the February 21 deadline.
“The state heard recently from many stakeholders about how enforcement the booster mandate could increase New York’s healthcare staffing shortage which is the subject a declared emergency,” Kenneth Raske, President of Greater New York Hospital Association, said according SI Live.
LeadingAge New York’s CEO, an association representing care providers like nursing homes and senior housing, stated that the state was not following the mandate.
Jim Clyne, LeadingAge New York’s CEO, stated that three days was not enough time to provide enough boosted staff to care for the patients and residents we serve.
