New York prepares for staff shortages from health vaccine mandate

• While most workers have been vaccinated against the virus, "tens of thousands" have not — despite health care providers saying they'll fire anyone who doesn't meet the requirement, the New York Times notes.

By the numbers: 84% of New York's 450,000 hospital employees and 83% of the state's 145,400 nursing home staff have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus as of Wednesday, per the latest figures from the New York State Department of Health.

What they're saying: "I am monitoring the staffing situation closely, and we have a plan to increase our health care workforce and help alleviate the burdens on our hospitals and other health care facilities," Hochul said in her statement.

• Hochul's statement noted that "workers who are terminated because of refusal to be vaccinated are not eligible for unemployment insurance."

Of note: The New York mandate led to Lewis County General Hospital announcing this month it was pausing its maternity services after several employees chose to resign rather than be vaccinated against COVID-19.

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