REGION — New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s office announced on Tuesday that vaccine rates among healthcare staff have “increased considerably” in the past four weeks as the deadline for a state vaccine mandate for healthcare workers approached.

According to the latest data reported by health care facilities to the Department of Health, 92 percent of nursing home staff, 92 percent of hospital staff and 89 percent of adult care facilities staff  were compliant as of Monday’s deadline to receive at least one vaccine dose.

“This new information shows that holding firm on the vaccine mandate for health care workers is simply the right thing to do to protect our vulnerable family members and loved ones from COVID-19,” Governor Hochul said.

Some lawmakers and unions have criticized the mandate for not including religious exemptions.

The state faces multiple lawsuits over the mandate, including one from the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association brought by some state hospital security workers who claim the mandate violates their constitutional rights.

As reported on Tuesday, the Governor’s office has released details of a plan to address staffing shortages that could result from enforcing the vaccine mandate.

As of presstime it’s unclear how many Sullivan County healthcare employees have been fired or suspended for being unvaccinated.

Local numbers

The State Department of Health released data on Tuesday tracking the percentage of healthcare workers with a completed vaccine series in hospitals across the state. 

Hospital Emergency Response Data System (HERDS) includes vaccine percentages for 28 facilities in the Mid-Hudson region, two of which are in Sullivan County.

Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills reported 90 percent of hospital staff with a completed vaccine series.

The Grover Hermann Hospital in Callicoon, also operated by Garnet Health, reported a 65 percent vaccine rate. According to HERDS, that makes it the lowest of any facility in the Mid-Hudson region and the third lowest in the state behind the Brooklyn Hospital Center’s downtown campus and Mercy Medical Center in Nassau County.

Garnet Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment before presstime on Thursday.

In a statement to the Democrat on Monday, however, Garnet Health spokeperson Rob Lee said that, “The overwhelming majority of our employee base” had met vaccine requirements and Garnet would continue “to fully function as the premier healthcare resource in our community.”