Opponents of Governor Kathy Hochul’s vaccine mandate for health care workers rallied Wednesday outside Strong Memorial Hospital, saying medical centers can’t risk losing employees during a pandemic.
Governor Hochul said in a statement that no healthcare facilities have closed because of the mandate that all workers be vaccinated. She said that includes hospitals and nursing homes. The mandate took effect by midnight, Wednesday. Hochul said 92 percent of all hospital workers had at least their first vaccine shot, up by ten points since the mandate was ordered.