NEW YORK – New York is facing a potential staffing crisis due to the vaccination mandate that goes into effect for domestic helpers.
Thousands of patients who need services at home could be left without care because many of those healthcare workers have refused to receive the vaccine. According to the Suffolk Visiting Nurse Service, at least six of its employees have said they will not get vaccinated as required by the state.
The mandate is not the only thing that prompts some healthcare workers to get vaccinated, said CEO Linda Taylor.
“We have seen the reaction of families that they do not want us to go in if we are not vaccinated,” said Taylor, whose agency serves about 3,000 patients. “They knew they came today, they wouldn’t be employed here if they couldn’t be vaccinated.”
A recent industry survey found that up to 12,000 workers could refuse the vaccine, and that would leave vulnerable people without help, the New York State Homecare Association said.
“They would go from being staffed today to very understaffed tomorrow,” said HCA President Al Cardillo.
Hospitals and nursing homes across the state faced the same threat of understaffing last week when the vaccine mandate went into effect for them. However, a small number of employees were suspended or fired for not having received the vaccine, and hospitals appeared to largely avoid staff shortages thus far.
Kenneth E. Raske, president of The Greater New York Hospital Association, which represents 140 hospitals and health systems in New York, said a “substantial influx” of workers received an injection on the day of the deadline.
Across the state, about 92% of hospital and nursing home staff had received at least one dose of the vaccine as of last week, according to figures from Hochul’s office. The number of home health aides who have received the vaccine is unclear.
New York’s vaccination mandate for healthcare workers does not include a religious exemption, but due to legal challenges, the courts have temporarily prohibited employers from enforcing the mandate against people with a sincere religious belief against vaccination. .
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