New York State is Mandating That All These People Take the Vaccine [List]
Here is a list of all the professions and people that New York State is requiring to get vaccinated against COVID-19. New York's first female governor, Kathy Hochul, announced yesterday, August 24, 2021, that all school personnel in the state will be required to take the vaccine. She made the announcement on her first day in office, outlining her plan for protecting students in NY,
My number one priority is getting children back to school and protecting the environment so they can learn safely. I am immediately directing the Department of Health to institute universal masking for anyone entering our schools, and we are launching a Back to School COVID-19 testing program to make testing for students and staff widely available and convenient. We are also working to require vaccinations for all school personnel with an option to test out weekly, and we are going to accomplish all of this by working in partnership with all levels of government.
In addition to school workers and educators, the state has announced several other vaccination mandates. Here's the list:
- Prior to leaving office, Governor Cuomo announced on August 16, that all healthcare professionals must get vaccinated,
all healthcare workers in New York State, including staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities (LTCF), including nursing homes, adult care, and other congregate care settings, will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Monday, September 27.
- Governor Cuomo announced that every New York State employee must get vaccinated. The governor made the announcement on July 28. Approximately 130,000 state employees will be required to get vaccinated. They will need to do so by Labor Day, which is Monday, September 6, 2021. If a state employee chooses not to get vaccinated, they will be required to take a COVID-19 test each week. Governor Cuomo said,
New Yorkers have displayed tremendous dedication and resilience to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic across the state, but vaccination rates aren't keeping pace with the Delta variant and we need to act now. That's why we're requiring everyone who works in a state-run hospital and interacts with patients to get vaccinated. New York is taking its vaccination effort a step further and requiring all state employees to get the shot or be tested weekly, and we look forward to working with our sisters and brothers in the labor movement to implement that quickly and effectively by Labor Day.
- CUNY and SUNY students must be vaccinated in order to attend in-person classes.
All Students registering for a fully in-person or hybrid class for the 2021 Fall Term must be fully vaccinated to attend in-person classes unless you have been granted an exception or medical exemption. Students accessing University facilities for reasons other than to attend an on-campus class session will be required to be vaccinated or to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 7 days prior to the visit. ~ CUNY Policy
All students that are participating in in-person learning at SUNY campuses and its facilities, with certain medical or religious exemptions. ~ SUNY Policy
- New York City residents who want to enjoy indoor, public activities, including dining, entertainment and fitness.
This new requirement — called the Key to NYC — includes bars, fitness gyms, movie and stage theatres, museums and other indoor venues. Staff at these locations are also required to be vaccinated. ~ NYC Health
- All school personnel
- All active-duty and reserve military members (not directly mandate through NYS, but affects members of the military in the state). On August 25, the United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, issued a memo stating that all members of the armed services must be vaccinated,
The memo directs the Secretaries of the Military Departments to immediately begin full vaccination of all members of the Armed Forces under DoD authority on active duty or in the Ready Reserve, including the National Guard, who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. ~ Department of Defense
There are five military bases in New York - Fort Drum Army Base in Jefferson, Fort Hamilton Army Base in Brooklyn, Us Military Academy Army Base in West Point, Watervilet Arsenal Army Base in Watervilet and Saratoga Springs NSU Navy Base in Saratoga Springs. The National Guard has approximately 21,000 soldiers in the state.
Before vacating the Office of Governor, Andrew Cuomo encouraged all businesses in New York to make getting vaccinated mandatory for their employees,
This morning's announcement that the federal Food and Drug Administration has fully approved Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccination eliminates any doubt in the science and efficacy of COVID vaccines. In the wake of this decision, every single employer in New York State should require all eligible employees to get vaccinated, just like New York State already requires of all eligible government and healthcare employees. It's past time for pleading and cajoling - the vaccines are safe, effective, free, and readily available.
If you live in New York State and would like to get the vaccine, you can get more information here.
If you are interested in getting vaccinated, the Erie County Department of Health has several pop-up vaccination events coming up:
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Sadie Strong 5K Walk event (2 Nottingham Terrace, Buffalo, NY 14216) from 8 am to 12 pm
Sunday, August 29, 2021
Canalside (44 Prime St, Buffalo, NY 14202) from 11 am to 3 pm.
You can also get a vaccine at home by calling (716)858-2929 or visiting http://erie.gov/vax, which is also where you can register for any of the pop-up events above.