HHWA SEEKS VACCINE DELAY FOR MEMBERS

“We are still forging ahead. Our members are getting vaxed today and every day. But we are going to fall short ... This is going to leave thousands of New Yorkers without home health care.”

In a recent article in the New York Daily News, HHWA’s Vice President Joe Pecora urges Governor Hochul to extend the vaccine mandate deadline to protect the jobs of our members and those for whom they provide care.

“Let me be clear: I’m vaccinated, I’ve encouraged our members to get vaccinated,” Pecora told the Daily News. “We are still forging ahead. Our members are getting vaxxed today and every day. But we are going to fall short. ... This is going to leave thousands of New Yorkers without home health care.”

According to Pecora, more than 70% of the local Home Health Care Workers of America are already vaccinated. And while the union is trying to get the rest in quickly for a shot, Pecora said there are issues unique to his group.

“The public has to understand we have at least a 20% annual turnover of home health care workers,” he explained. “We’re not fighting the mandate. We just need more time to work with the governor and the Department of Health.

“On behalf of my members and the people they serve, we are asking Albany to extend this deadline.”

READ MORE (New York Daily News article by Larry McShane)