Authorities in New York may recruit medical workers from the Philippines and other countries as they are preparing to terminate the services of un-vaccinated staff.
The unvaccinated health staff would be fired if they don’t get COVID-19 vaccine shots by Monday.
According to Gov. Kathy Hochul, her administration is pursuing the vaccination for healthcare staff, who may see a significant exodus due to the failure to get COVID-19 shots.
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The health care workers must get at least one dose of the vaccine by Monday and in case they fail to do so the state won’t let them do their jobs and hospitals and nursing homes can fire them.
As per the state data, 17% of nursing homes and 16% of hospital worker staff remain unvaccinated.
The officials of hospitals and nursing homes have warned that the loss of unvaccinated workers could hurt the quality of care at their facilities as many hospitals and nursing homes are already short-staffed.
Hochul said New York is discussing with the federal officials about relaxing Visa requirements to make it easier for medical personnel in the Philippines and other countries to return to work.
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The New York authorities are also considering changing licensing requirements to make it easier for health care workers from other states to travel to the city.
Hochul however said New York would not be able to implement those strategies immediately and applauded health care workers who’ve already received the vaccine.
Governor also said she hopes un-vaccinated workers get the shot by Monday so New York won’t have to take those steps. She said that what was “looming for Monday is completely avoidable. And there are no excuses.”
She said that it would be “phenomenally unfair to your coworkers” and other New Yorkers “that we will have our recovery held back by individuals who choose not to get vaccinated.” (AW)
