What you should know
- New York will not enforce its mandate requiring healthcare workers to receive COVID-19 vaccine boosters due to concerns about staffing shortages.
- Gov. Kathy Hochul noted a worrying rise in advanced infections when she announced the mandate in January. Her administration set a deadline of February 21.
- But state health commissioner Mary Bassett said Friday that the decision to suspend enforcement of the mandate reflects the reality that booster rates remain low, particularly in nursing homes.
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NEW YORK — New York will not enforce its mandate requiring health care workers to receive COVID-19 vaccine boosters due to concerns about staffing shortages, state health officials said Friday.
Gov. Kathy Hochul noted a worrying rise in advanced infections when she announced the mandate in January. Her administration set a deadline of February 21.
But state health commissioner Mary Bassett said Friday that the decision to suspend enforcement of the mandate reflects the reality that booster rates remain low, particularly in nursing homes.
“While we are making progress with 75% of staff receiving or willing to receive their booster, the reality is that next week’s requirement will not boost enough healthcare workers to prevent substantial staffing issues in our already overburdened system. health care,” Bassett said in a statement.
LeadingAge New York CEO Jim Clyne praised New York’s decision to halt enforcement of the mandate as “wise.”
“Three days was not going to be enough time to get enough staff members to take care of the residents and patients that we have to take care of,” he said.
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