Staff from the top 10 counties released a paper on Thursday raising concerns with the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine order for health workers in New York and urging Gov. Kathy Hochul and Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker to change.
In the case of the counties – Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Steuben, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates and Schuyler – there is a declining number of health professionals and submissions due to take effect on September 26 , a day before the vaccination request is in effect.
“As I am sure you know both, all levels of health care have already experienced a shortage of staff caused by many factors,” the letter from the communities to Hochul and Zucker said. “The massive withdrawal of health care workers at the end of September, coming several weeks after children return to school, combined with a continued increase in COVID-19 across the state caused by the spread of delta diversity is a recipe for crisis throughout the entire health system. ”
Local officials urged Hochul and Zucker to change the immunization order, one that would rely on further testing of those who did not receive COVID-19 rifles. The letter acknowledges the complexity of the case, in particular how public health professionals are seeking immunization as many people as possible and those in critical areas such as health care.
Small communities, especially those in rural areas, have already struggled with access to health care and health workers, a problem before the pandemic and exacerbated by the crisis.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo last month announced at one of his last official immunizations for health workers in New York, a move that dovetailed with an order for all state employees to get vaccinated after Labor Day.
Hochul, who took office last week, is also working with school administrators in New York to deliver a vaccination order to the program staff.