NYAPRS Lauds Gov Hochul’s State Mental Health, Prison Worker Vaccine Mandate
NYAPRS thanks and congratulate Governor Hochul for taking steps to require that healthcare workers who work at state mental health and developmental disability facilities as well state prisons be mandated to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as has already been the case for workers at other state run facilities and community hospitals.
“Thanks to the Governor’s announcement and plans, tens of thousands of New Yorkers who reside in OMH, OPWDD and DOCS facilities will be spared the health and life-threatening risks that come from being served by unvaccinated workers,” said Harvey Rosenthal, CEO of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services. “The Governor’s just actions make clear that she considers protecting the health of New Yorkers in those facilities on an equal basis with all other New Yorkers.”
NYAPRS has been strongly advocating with state agencies and the Governor’s office for many weeks to effectuate this policy.
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Governor Hochul Working on Regulations to Require Mental Health Facility, Prison Health Care Workers to Be Vaccinated
WRFA October 1, 2021
Governor Kathy Hochul said regulations are being developed to mandate that health care workers in mental health facilities and prisons in New York be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Hochul, speaking at a news briefing Thursday, said the regulations will be announced in the near future.
This new set of health care workers would join the ranks of staffers at hospitals and nursing homes who were required to receive at least one dose of the vaccination by midnight Monday or face losing their jobs under a state mandate. While the majority of hospital and nursing home workers have been vaccinated, hundreds have been fired or furloughed for refusing to get the shot.
Hochul said the current vaccine mandate was issued through the state Department of Health and only covered facilities that agency regulates.
People opposed to the mandate, including some who filed lawsuits, have argued that the order infringed on their personal freedom or religious beliefs, or they had concerns about the side effects of the shots.
Most medical experts say the shots are safe and are the only way to end the pandemic.