Stec Calls for Gov. Hochul to Avert Crisis, End COVID Booster Mandate on Healthcare Workers

Senator Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) has called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to rescind the COVID vaccination booster requirement on health care workers before an impending Feb. 21 deadline. Stec and 15 of his Senate Republican colleagues have written to the governor, noting that failure to lift this mandate could exacerbate short staffing issues and cause a health care crisis. 

“I’ve heard directly from health care providers in our Senate District that the Feb. 21 deadline could trigger hundreds of layoffs and create chaos in our health care system,” Stec said. “Our caregivers have been overworked and overextended for years, and the pandemic has worsened an already existing short staffing crisis in hospitals and nursing homes. If this vaccination booster mandate takes effect on Monday, the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers is at risk. 

“If the mandate isn’t rescinded, health care facilities will be compelled to reduce or cancel elective surgeries and other health services,” he added. “I urge the governor to avert this nightmare scenario and eliminate the COVID vaccination booster immediately.”