Ashley Roll stated that she would have to quit her nursing program if she doesn't receive the coronavirus vaccine. Ashley Roll.
New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandate came into effect Monday. This means that all hospital and nursing home staff must have received their first dose.
Gov. Kathy Hochul stated that vaccination rates among healthcare workers increased over the weeks preceding the deadline.
However, only a small percentage of healthcare workers would prefer to be terminated rather than receive the COVID-19 vaccination.
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Ashley Roll is an employee at the state-run Dolgeville home for people with developmental disabilities. She doesn't know whether her facility will require COVID-19 vaccinations for its staff and healthcare workers. She's still looking for a job, just in case.
Roll is worried that she might be among the healthcare workers who have resigned or been fired due to federal and/or local vaccine mandates. On Monday, all New York-based healthcare workers had to have their first dose.
Roll stated, "I work for New York," referring to Central New York Developmental Disabilities Service Office. She's been there for six years. "We have all been wondering what the future holds. Is it possible that we will be mandated? Do we expect to be fired? We don't know."
New York's hospital and nursing home workers had to have received their COVID-19 vaccination dose by September 27th. Home care, hospice and adult care facility workers can wait until October 7. Hospitals and nursing homes in New York are making preparations for staff shortages. Employees who refuse to receive the vaccine could face termination.
Roll is also a freshman nurse student who is gaining clinical experience at a local hospitals. She said that her inability to vaccinate herself in the face New York's mandate has had a negative impact on her education. Roll stated that her Mohawk Valley Community College dean informed her that she could not continue with her nursing clinicals at a facility that adheres to the state mandate if she didn't get vaccinated. This effectively disqualifies her from the program.
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According to the 33-year old, she had experienced adverse reactions to vaccines before and claimed that COVID-19 felt forced upon her. Experts refute this argument by pointing out that the COVID-19 vaccine was developed in a country and subsequently processed in a number of countries. This saved time, as Insider's Mary Meisenzahl reported.
Roll stated that she was planning to seek a religious exemption for the shots. Roll said that few of her peers are currently vaccinated and many are looking for other employment in anticipation of the vaccine requirement.
Roll stated, "I have been searching for other jobs." "We have all stated that we will wait until they fire me, basically."
Kathy Hochul, New York Governor, is pushing forward. She has deployed medical personnel from the National Guard to replace hospital workers who are not vaccinated and issued a state-of-emergency that allows healthcare professionals from other countries and states to fill in any gaps.
Continue reading: Anti-vax nurses blamed for hospital staff shortages ignores the fact that COVID's frontline workers are not receiving adequate support or mental healthcare.
According to a press release by the governor's offices, vaccination rates among healthcare workers have "increased significantly" in the four weeks preceding the mandate's September 27, deadline. This coincided with Biden’s vaccine mandate for facilities that receive federal funds.
Nurse home staff were 92% vaccinated compared to 71%. The state reported that the vaccination rate in adult care facilities rose from 77% up to 89% and that 92% of staff in hospitals had had their first shot.
Hochul stated in the statement that "These new facts show that holding firm to the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers is just the right thing to take to protect our vulnerable loved ones and family members from COVID-19."
Insider was told by a spokesperson for the state Department of Health that the mandate required organizations to develop a plan to implement the mandate. Also, what happens to employees who don't comply with the mandate. New York's hospital systems have complied with the mandate and have either fired or placed on leave employees who are not vaccinated.
Northwell Health, the largest state-owned healthcare provider, announced Monday that it had fired two dozen managers because they didn't comply with the mandate. Insider was told by a spokesperson that the health system had informed employees not vaccinated of their violation and had begun a process to expel them using a well-planned approach.
Hospitals in similar areas have observed that nurses and other healthcare workers prefer to be vaccinated than risk termination.
Insider was told by a spokesperson for New York-Presbyterian - a leading medical center in New York - that 99% of its 48,000 employees have been vaccinated.
"Fewer that 250 people chose not to comply, and they no longer work at NewYork–Presbyterian as September 23. Insider was told by a spokesperson that we will continue to provide exceptional healthcare at all our hospitals.
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