COVID vaccine mandated for state employees, health workers

About 130,000 state employees and health care workers at state-run hospitals who directly interact with patients must get the vaccine by Labor Day.

Regular COVID testing throughout the work week is not an acceptable alternative for public-facing health workers in lieu of getting vaccinated.

“Politicians don’t like to suggest actions that are not popular,” Cuomo said during a virtual briefing Wednesday. “A politician who suggests too many unpopular options is not a long-term politician, but there’s a choice in doing the political thing or doing the right thing, and I’ve always chosen to do the right thing.”

The new rule will apply to health workers at SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Upstate, SUNY Downstate, Long Island Veterans Home at Stony Brook, Helen Hayes Hospital, SUNY College of Optometry, Montrose Veterans Home, St. Albans Veterans Home, Oxford Veterans Home and Batavia Veterans Home.

State employees who refuse to get vaccinated against coronavirus COVID-19 will be required to get tested for the virus each week.

The vaccine mandate was announced after new coronavirus infections and hospitalizations have increased across the state and nation for several weeks.

The state reported 2,203 new COVID-19 infections Tuesday compared to 275 new cases June 28, or one month ago.

“It’s an aggressive step, and there will be pushback,” Cuomo said. “I’m going to be having more conversations with the unions about it, but we know what we’re dealing with.

“... I believe the unions even get it,” he added.

New York’s daily positivity rate was 2.23% Wednesday after the state had one of the nation’s lowest infection rates of 0.34% on June 23.

Health experts around the globe have tied the increase to the more contagious COVID delta variant. Pfizer or Moderna’s two-shot and Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose coronavirus vaccines have proven effective against the mutated virus.

“We need dramatic action to get a control of the situation,” Cuomo said.

The governor encouraged counties, municipalities and local governments across the state to adopt the same mandate for all public-facing employees and require they be vaccinated or submit to testing by Labor Day.

“I think we have to go there, otherwise, we know what happens,” the governor said. “We’ve seen the movie. We had the front-row seat in the movie. We had the highest price of admission to see COVID movie 1. I don’t want to see the sequel.”

Cuomo has leaned on county and local officials to make decisions about pandemic-related restrictions since the COVID-19 state of emergency ended late last month.

An employer can mandate workers get a specific vaccine by law.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s two-shot COVID vaccine and Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose injection under Emergency Use Authorization.

The vaccine cannot be legally mandated in schools or other private-owned properties without final approval from the FDA.

The COVID vaccine mandate will apply to legislative employees, including state assemblymembers and senators.

“The recent spike in the COVID-19 pandemic shows that we still have more work to do in order to overcome this terrible health crisis,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, said in a statement Wednesday. “In order to ensure the safety of the public and our employees, and consistent with CDC and state guidance, the Assembly will be requiring vaccinations or regular testing for those not vaccinated.”

The Senate will also follow all coronavirus vaccine and testing recommendations as directed by the U.S. Centers For Disease Control & Prevention and state officials in wake of the recent spike in COVID-19 infections.

“This will include mandating vaccinations or regular testing for those not vaccinated,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, said in a statement Wednesday. “We will continue to monitor the situation and make science-based decisions. Our Majority remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of our workforce and our community as we work to overcome this pandemic.”

Some state employees and representatives reacted to the decision Wednesday with outrage.

Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, who represents eight towns in Livingston County, blasted the vaccine mandate.

“The governor’s brazen ultimatum that state workers be vaccinated by Labor Day or face weekly testing is outrageous, unconstitutional and more about muscle-flexing than public health,” Borrello said in a statement in reaction to Wednesday’s mandate. “State workers, many of whom were on the front lines helping New York State get through the extraordinary challenges of the pandemic, don’t deserve to be bullied into being vaccinated. Coercing people into taking such a step against their will represents a gross violation of our fundamental freedoms and isn’t supported by the science.

“I hope that the unions representing state workers will stand up against this dictatorial move and support their dues-paying members 100%.”

State officials are speaking with union representatives to implement the new vaccine requirement quickly and fairly, according to a statement from the governor’s office.

Assurance from the Executive Chamber did little to ease the frustration of some union reps.

“It’s disheartening that an administration that touts itself being NY Smart would take such a drastic measure without any input from the individuals this directly impacts,” New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association President Michael Powers said in a statement. “Just a month ago, the state celebrated the lifting of restrictions with fireworks shows and now today’s about-face. It’s time that we stop making these decisions in a vacuum and start including stakeholders.”