REGION — New York State and Sullivan County continue to make progress in vaccine distribution as a state deadline for healthcare workers to get vaccinated was reached yesterday.

According to data collected by the New York State Department of Health, over 25,021,659 vaccine doses have been administered throughout the state. Some 61.7 percent of all New Yorkers have completed their vaccine series, according to the Governor’s Office.

“The vaccine is the most important tool we have to end the COVID-19 pandemic, revitalize our communities and bring New York’s economy back, and that’s why it’s so important that every eligible New Yorker get vaccinated as soon as possible,” Governor Hochul said. “New York State is hitting the ground running to get shots in arms, and we continue to launch new initiatives to get the shot to under vaccinated communities and our young people. I urge everyone who hasn’t taken the vaccine to do so right away—the faster we defeat this pandemic, the faster we move into the future."

Back in August, Former Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Department of Health issued orders to hospitals and long-term care facilities requiring that all employees receive at least one dose of the vacciCOVID-19 by Monday, September 27.

Some lawmakers have expressed grave concerns that a vaccine requirement could result in a shortage of healthcare workers.

“While I am vaccinated and I support vaccination, this is an outrageous abuse of power and an abandonment of New York’s own healthcare heroes who have been on the frontlines throughout this pandemic,” Said State Senator Mike Martucci on Saturday. “I want to be clear – I stand with New York healthcare workers in this fight. All Governor Hochul needs to do to fix this is allow for a testing option for those who choose not to be vaccinated.”

In preparation for the vaccine deadline, Gov. Hochul’s office released details of a plan on Saturday that includes the preparation of a state of emergency declaration that would help supplement workforce supply at health care facilities across the state.

If a state of emergency declaration is signed, Gov. Hochul says it would allow health care professionals licensed in other states or countries, including recent graduates, retired and formerly practicing health care professionals, to practice in New York State.

“I am monitoring the staffing situation closely, and we have a plan to increase our health care workforce and help alleviate the burdens on our hospitals and other health care facilities,” Governor Hochul said. “I commend all of the health care workers who have stepped up to get themselves vaccinated, and I urge all remaining health care workers who are unvaccinated to do so now so they can continue providing care."

Hochul said her office is considering other measures, including the deployment of medically-trained National Guard members to assist local health and medical systems as needed.

"The overwhelming majority of our employee base has met the New York State healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccine mandate,” Garnet Health Spokesman Rob Lee told the Democrat on Monday. “Garnet Health continues to fully function as the premier healthcare resource in our community that people can always rely upon.” -
According to the Governor’s Office, 84 percent of all hospital employees in New York State were fully vaccinated as of September 22. Furthermore, 81 percent of staff at all adult care facilities and 77 percent of all staff at nursing home facilities in New York State are fully vaccinated.”