BUFFALO, N.Y. — Another mandate was handed down by New York State Monday as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The state Department of Health announced that hospital and long-term care facility employees will need to get vaccinated.

Employees will have to get the shot by the end of September.

“I think it's overdue,” said Dr. Myron Glick, the founder and CEO of Jericho Road Community Health Center.

He’s seen the effects of the pandemic firsthand.

The worst of it came from those who are not vaccinated.

“We've seen people die,” he said. “We've seen babies born prematurely. We've seen staff get really sick.”

What You Need To Know

  • This mandate impacts works in hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities and other congregate care settings

  • Around 3/4 of this population is already fully vaccinated, statewide

  • A first dose is required by September 27

Two weeks ago, Jericho Road mandated vaccines for its 370-person staff, but with a weekly testing option for those who didn’t want the shot.

Fifty people took that route.

“They've basically made a decision that in their health, in the way they think of it, their health is better served by not getting the vaccine," said Glick. "It's really hard to tell folks to do something that they think goes against their best interest.”

Glick is among many people in the Western New York who say this latest move is a step in the right direction, but he has worries about a mandate impacting staffing numbers.

He's also concerned that this will impact minorities more because most of his unvaccinated employees are Black and brown people, refugees and other people of color.

“I don't feel good about forcing anyone's hand, and especially folks that have been historically mistreated by our system," said Glick. “But we are in the middle of a pandemic. It makes all the sense in the world from a scientific standpoint to get the shot.”

It's tough spot to be in, but one Glick says is worth it to stop the spread and hopefully prevent more variants from wreaking havoc on local communities.

Most of the hospital, adult care and nursing home workers across New York have already been vaccinated. That number is about 70 — 75%, according to state statistics.

Everyone else will have to get at least their first shot by September 27.

The state will be providing more details about the mandate soon.​