New York says vaccine mandate for health care workers convinced most holdouts to get the shot

New York health care worker
(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

New York on Monday became the first state to require all health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The deadline seems to have convinced thousands of holdouts to get last-minute shots.

As of Monday, 92 percent of New York's more than 650,000 hospital and nursing home employees have gotten at least one shot, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul's (D) office. Last week, 82 percent of nursing home workers and 84 percent of hospital personnel had gotten at least their first dose, and when former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced the mandate on Aug. 16, 70 percent of nursing home health workers and 77 percent of hospital staff were vaccinated.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.