New York May Call On National Guard To Replace Unvaccinated Healthcare Workers
Summary from the AllSides News Team
With tens of thousands of health care employees likely to miss New York’s approaching deadline for mandated vaccinations, Gov. Kathy Hochul is considering employing the National Guard and out-of-state medical workers to fill hospital staffing shortages. In a statement issued on Saturday, Hochul said she plans on declaring a state of emergency that would “allow qualified health care professionals licensed in other states or countries, recent graduates, retired and formerly practicing health care professionals to practice in New York State.” Last month, the New York State Department of Health announced a new mandate that requires all healthcare workers to get at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 27. According to the governor's office, about 16% (70,000 healthcare workers) have not been fully vaccinated to date. Healthcare employees who are fired for not adhering to the guideline will not be eligible for unemployment insurance unless they provide "a valid doctor-approved request for medical accommodation."
Sources from the left and center were more likely to emphasize how COVID-19 death tolls continue to rise across the country, notably in the unvaccinated. Right-rated outlets were more likely to highlight how some "unions and administrators" asked Hochul to postpone the deadline, but also linked to surveys that reported a majority of Americans support vaccine mandates.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
New York could use National Guard to fill ranks of unvaccinated health care workersNew York may lose a large portion of its health care workers once the state’s expanded vaccine mandate takes effect on Monday, but Gov. Kathy Hochul said she’s already got plans to fill the ranks.
Hochul issued a statement on Saturday that said she is prepared to declare a state of emergency to sure up staffing at medical facilities should unvaccinated workers fail to comply with the mandate.
The workforce would be supplemented by health care workers who are licensed to practice in other states or countries, recent graduates and retired...
From the Center
New York may tap National Guard to replace unvaccinated healthcare workersNew York Governor Kathy Hochul is considering employing the National Guard and out-of-state medical workers to fill hospital staffing shortages with tens of thousands of workers possibly losing their jobs for not meeting a Monday deadline for mandated COVID-19 vaccination.
The plan, outlined in a statement from Hochul here on Saturday, would allow her to declare a state of emergency to increase the supply of healthcare workers to include licensed professionals from other states and countries as well as retired nurses.
Hochul said the state was also looking at using...
From the Left
New York may use national guard to replace unvaccinated health workersThe governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, is considering using the national guard and out-of-state medical workers to fill hospital staffing shortages, as tens of thousands of workers are unlikely to meet a Monday deadline for mandated Covid-19 vaccination.
The plan, outlined in a statement, would allow the governor to declare a state of emergency and thereby increase the supply of healthcare workers to include licensed professionals from other states and countries as well as retired nurses.
Hochul said the state was also looking at using national guard officers with medical training to...
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