Topline
Northwell Health, New York's largest provider of health care services, was fired Monday by 1,400 employees after refusing to be vaccinated against coronavirus.
New York's doctors and nurses are vaccinated more than 95%. Getty Images
The Key Facts
Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, announced that all New York health care workers, including those working in hospitals and long-term care facilities in New York, must receive at least one doses of the Covid-19 vaccine before Sept. 27. Northwell stated that it had taken a "rapid and aggressive approach to achieve full vaccination compliance" and that each employee would be vaccinated. This would enable the provider to provide "exceptional care at all of its hospitals, without interruption, and allow all our facilities to continue to operate and remain open." Northwell spokesmen said that although they regret losing employees to the mandate, it believes having fully vaccinated workers is an important step in fulfilling its duty to protect the safety and health of all staff, patients, and communities. Northwell's vaccine policy, which goes beyond what the state mandates, requires that both clinic and non-clinical staff be immunized. The hospital network fired approximately two dozen "unvaccinated leaders" last week for refusing to get their vaccines.
Tangent:
New York healthcare workers who refuse to get vaccinated cannot be eligible for unemployment insurance unless they have been approved by a doctor. According to the New York Department of Labor, workers in a nursing home or healthcare facility who have "voluntarily quit" or were terminated because they refused to vaccinate are not eligible to receive unemployment insurance. This is because their employers have a "compelling" interest in enforced vaccine mandates.
The Key Background
New York officials, along with those from many other states that have issued similar mandates were concerned about possible staff shortages at hospitals, long-term care facilities and hospitals. This is despite earlier polls showing that more than 30% of Americans would not get vaccinated. New York Governor. Kathy Hochul, New York Governor, said last month that she would sign an executive act allowing her to send medically-trained National Guard troops to hospitals and retiree healthcare workers to those hospitals. Hochul stated, "I have made it clear that I am not changing my position." "I am charged with protecting all New Yorkers' health." After the FDA approval of Covid-19, the vaccine was approved by the FDA and a rise in the deadly Delta variant, vaccination hesitancy began to decline in the U.S. National data shows that mandates issued by employers have been effective in increasing the inoculation rate among workers. According to state officials, the vaccination rate for New York-based nurses and doctors was up 10% during the week before the Sept. 27 deadline. It reached 92% by the end of September.
Important Quote
Northwell stated in a statement that "As state-funded health care providers, we recognize our unique responsibility to protect our patients' health."
Additional Reading:
Here's Proof that the Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates Work (Forbes).
Hospitals begin firing staffers who refuse covid vaccines, leading some to fear staffing shortages (Forbes).
New York's largest healthcare provider fires 1,400 employees who are not vaccinated. (NYT).
NY Nursing Homes Experience Overnight Increase in COVID Vaccinations - State Mandate (Gothamist).
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