The New York state mandate for requiring health care workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine is officially in place. Those who do not have at least one dose of the vaccine risk losing their jobs.

Hospital staffs in the Capital Region could be affected. Many local hospitals had set a deadline of Oct. 1 for its employees to be fully vaccinated.

In August, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo mandated all health care workers, including staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities statewide, to get at least one shot by Sept. 27.


What You Need To Know

  • Albany Medical Center is reporting 97.6% of its workforce is inoculated

  • Ellis Medicine is reporting 91% of its staff is fully vaccinated

  • St Peter’s Health Partners currently has under 400 employees across its hospitals who have not reported their vaccination status

That includes Albany Medical Center, which is reporting a 97.6% vaccination rate among its workforce. About 272 of its employees remain unvaccinated.

In Schenectady, Ellis Medicine reports 94% of its staff have received at least one dose. A spokesperson says 69 employees have requested religious exemption, which is currently being worked out in the courts with a temporary restraining order in place. He says those employees continue to work at Ellis.

“While we have plans in place to ensure continued operations and safe staffing, we are awaiting clarity in the courts,” said Philip Schwartz, senior director for marketing and communications at Ellis Medicine.

Many hospital leaders are preparing for staffing impacts from this mandate. Local hospitals had already faced a shortage prior to the inoculation mandate.

A spokesperson for St Peter’s Health Partners says they’re looking at numerous options to address gaps, which could include the temporary suspension of some services like elective surgeries.

St Peter’s currently has less than 400 employees across its hospitals who have not reported their vaccination status.

“We are continuing to have conversations with those employees, providing education and support, and are optimistic that these efforts will be successful and that the number of unvaccinated will decrease (by the deadline),” said Thea Dalfiano, chief medical officer for SPHP Acute Care.

At Saratoga Hospital, a spokesperson says they’re also ready to make adjustments to specific services if staffing shortages worsen.

Saratoga Hospital currently has a 95% inoculation rate with about 150 employees who have not taken a shot. Unvaccinated employees without an exemption face unpaid administrative leave.

“We have stepped up our targeted recruiting efforts with virtual and onsite events,” said Kristin Mosher, manager of marketing and communications at Saratoga Hospital. “We also offer sign-on bonuses for new employees, make referral payments to existing employees and have raised pay grades for a number of positions.”