New York Governor Announces More Vaccination Mandates

More vaccine mandate deadlines are looming for workers in New York State.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced October 5 plans to expand the healthcare worker vaccine mandate to include employees working in certain facilities offering care to people served by the Office of Mental Health and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, requiring staff to show proof of at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine series by November 1 with no test-out option.

The Democrat says, ahead of the deadline, staff in those settings must submit to weekly testing if they are not vaccinated, beginning next Tuesday, October 12.

Hochul says she wants to ensure the health and safety of clients of the Office of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities in state-regulated facilities.  The focus of the latest initiative is on caregivers that come in and out of contact with clients as opposed to those who have a single care provider in other settings.

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Hochul adds that there had been a lot of attention on the hospital and nursing home mandate and the deadline for adult care facility staff to be vaccinated coming October 7.  She says the state is moving into a good place with a dramatic increase in the number of workers getting vaccinated against COVID-19.  The Governor says, “we’re approaching the numbers we need to hit, so we’re seeing that those deadlines have a way of focusing the mind on doing the right thing.”