BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – Governor Kathy Hochul is urging unvaccinated health care workers to get their COVID-19 shot.
"We know this has been tough and has been a hard decision," Hochul said at a news conference Monday in New York City. "We really do hope you will come around to that decision to help us make sure we can do everything in our power…to ensure we do everything to protect people."
Approximately 90% of the health care workers in the Buffalo metro area – Kaleida Health, Catholic Health, and ECMC -, have been vaccinated.
Those who are unvaccinated by 11:59 p.m. Monday will be placed on 30-day unpaid leave. If they have not been vaccinated after the 30 days, they will be fired.
"It reflects my priority to just stop this virus dead in its tracks," Hochul said. "We are over it. We are done. We want to move on."
Hochul intends to sign an executive order which will give her emergency powers to handle the staffing problem that will be caused by those who are placed on leave. The order will allow her to deploy the National Guard and address licensing for other health professionals to help with staffing.
Meanwhile, vaccinated health care workers may have additional work shifts to compensate for the loss in staff.
"It's fundamentally unfair," Hochul said about the nurses that will have to work harder. "We're going to have to bring in people to help at all levels…It does not have to be this way."
