Policy Brief: Section 16 Orders for COVID-19 Vaccination of Healthcare Workers in NY

State

To: Governor Kathy Hochul

NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390

Contact: Laura Kunneva RN, BSN

(716) XXX-XXX
Laura_Kunneva@urmc.rochester.edu

Asking that you: 

Revise the Section 16 Orders for COVID-19 Vaccination of Healthcare Workers in NY State to

include a requirement for physical assessment results of all healthcare workers before mandatory

COVID-19 vaccinations are given to minimize side effects leading to possible disabling. 

Issue: 

Before implementing Section 16 Orders for COVID-19 Vaccination of Healthcare Workers in

NY State, there were no laws or policies in place to obligate hospitals and nursing homes to

mandate COVID-19 vaccination, leaving the unsatisfactory rate of COVID-19 vaccination

among healthcare workers unchanged. COVID-19 vaccination is the most effective way to slow

down the spread of COVID-19 infection; however, the percentage of vaccinated healthcare

workers in NY state remained as low as 75% in 2021, but the most recent statistical data from

2022 shows a vaccination rate of 99% (COVID-19 data in New York).

Facts:

 Total COVID-19 fatalities that happened at any location reported to and complied by

CDC Tracker on August 23, 2022 is 73, 360.

  The total fatalities reported by healthcare facilities alone are 57, 460 which is more than

two-thirds of all cases.

 As of August 17, 2022, the percent of the population in NY state vaccinated with at least

one dose is 91, and the percent fully vaccinated is 77.

 In comparison, hospital workers with completed vaccination series in NY State currently

is 99%, and the rate will approach 100% as more employees get vaccinated.

 Even though severe side effects from COVID-19 vaccines are not so common, they are

still a significant concern, especially for individuals with preexisting medical conditions. 

 About one in 100,000 people receiving the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine have

experienced a clotting disorder known as thrombotic thrombocytopenia.

 More recently, another rare side effect of myocarditis has been reported in

people receiving Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

Suggestions:

Revision of the current Section 16 Orders for COVID-19 Vaccination of Healthcare Workers in

NY State to add a physical exam requirement before giving the mandatory COVID-19 vaccines

to healthcare workers is the better option. Mandating healthcare workers to receive the COVID-

19 vaccine without thorough assessment would increase the chances of unwanted side effects

leading to permanent health problems and even death. This proposed change is an objective idea

as it gives every healthcare worker access to an overall health evaluation before the vaccination

and collects preliminary information about why the vaccine cannot be given. There is currently a

short pre-vaccination checklist for the COVID-19 vaccine available for all vaccine recipients

from the CDC website, even though more extensive measures are desirable. However,
implementing such a screening tool is a leap forward in protecting healthcare workers and all

other vaccine users from the more severe side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.
 References

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August 24, 2022, from https://covid-19.bilh.org/wp-content/uploads/bilh-covid-19-

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, August 23). Clinical Care Considerations for

covid-19 vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 24,

2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/index.html

Covid-19 data in New York. Department of Health. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2022, from

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-data-new-york

New York COVID-19 vaccine tracker | democratandchronicle.com. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24,

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