ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester area's two largest hospital systems are responding to the vaccine mandate announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. All staff working at hospitals and long-term health facilities in New York will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 27.

Rochester Regional Health will implement the plan in the coming days. RRH says 75% of its employees are already vaccinated. 

UR Medicine says they are awaiting further instruction from the state to understand the details of the requirement and how it may impact operations. According to URMC, 86% of its health care workers are vaccinated.

Workers were given the option to get tested weekly if they chose not to receive a vaccination.