Hospital Staff In Putnam, Dutchess Face COVID Vaccine Or Job Loss

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Workers at hospitals in Putnam and Dutchess counties, which have some of the lowest vaccination rates against COVID-19 in New York State, have a problem.

With the coronavirus surging again, state officials announced a new mandate Monday requiring all health care workers be vaccinated by Sept. 27. Then officials at Nuvance Health, which operates seven hospitals — Northern Dutchess Hospital, Putnam Hospital Center and Vassar Brothers Medical Center in New York plus Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital, Norwalk Hospital and Sharon Hospital in Connecticut — doubled down with their own mandate.

Nuvance officials announced Tuesday that all members of its workforce are now required to receive COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of employment or the provision of services at Nuvance Health.

"The requirement applies to employees, medical staff, volunteers, students and contractors and is consistent with the policies of many health systems and hospitals nationwide who have adopted a similar requirement," they said in a statement.

As of Aug. 18, Putnam Hospital was one of only two hospitals in the state with fewer than 60 percent of its workers vaccinated against COVID-19. The two hospitals in Dutchess County have poor compliance as well. Statewide, the vaccination rate among hospital workers was 76 percent.

In response to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement Monday, officials at the New York State Nurses Association said state health officials and hospital officials should do more to deal with conditions in hospitals.

"Our healthcare workers are exhausted and traumatized. Their voices should be heard — not denied or characterized as vectors of infection — which is exactly what we are trying to avoid," they said in a statement.

With the delta variant continuing to surge in New York and nationwide, patient care would be compromised if the pool of nurses and other healthcare workers continues to shrink, they said. "It is our hope that by the time this mandate is in effect, that the vaccines have gained full FDA approval."

They called on state officials to take a stronger role in ensuring healthcare facilities meet health and safety protocols that fully recognize airborne transmission, and are safely staffed with enough frontline healthcare workers, especially ICU nurses.

"They must also ensure hospitals have adequate and accessible Personal Protective Equipment supplies. They should no longer be in a conservation mindset when it comes to PPE," they said.

Nuvance Health officials said they launched their mandatory COVID-19 vaccine program to maintain the safest environment possible for employees, patients and visitors because hospitalizations from COVID-19 are rising, and variants present a higher risk of spread.

“We are convinced that having a fully vaccinated workforce is critically important to ensuring the health and well-being of our employees, patients and community members,” said Dr. John M. Murphy, president and CEO of Nuvance Health. “We have proven throughout the pandemic that we can conquer even the toughest challenges when we work together. We need to continue working together by getting immunized against COVID-19 so we can have a safe environment for our patients and each other."

Nuvance is one of the Hudson Valley's major employers. In addition to the hospitals it has many outpatient, primary and specialty care physician practice locations and urgent care offices. Non-acute care is offered through various affiliates, including the Thompson House for rehabilitation and skilled nursing services, and the Home Care organizations.

Current Nuvance employees must provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated by Oct. 1. Effective Aug. 23, new hires must provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination prior to starting employment.

Members of the workforce who are not fully vaccinated by the deadline or do not have an approved request for accommodation, such as for medical or religious reasons, will be unable to continue employment or provide services at Nuvance Health.

“We believe requiring vaccinations is the right thing to do because we have an ethical obligation to protect our patients and each other. Furthermore, there is abundant evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19 in a majority of people,” said Dr. Murphy.

Nuvance Health is providing ongoing communications and support for employees to address the reasoning, process, and expectations in preparation for full vaccination, officials said. They encouraged employees with concerns or questions about COVID-19 vaccines to seek guidance from their primary care provider.

Many leading healthcare organizations have endorsed mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations to protect employees and patients, including the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, Connecticut Hospital Association and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.