Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to sign an executive order declaring a state of emergency Monday to prepare for health care staffing shortages to replace workers who don't get the COVID-19 vaccine by the deadline.

"I don't have to do this if people will get vaccinated," says Hochul. "There's plenty of hours left in the day but I also know I need to be prepared.

The state of emergency would allow health care professionals licensed in other states or countries to work here or even deploy members of the National Guard with medical training.

"We've sent out the alarm to a pool of individuals who want to help but I can't do anything with respect to their licensing until the executive order is signed," says Hochul.

As of last week, 84% of all hospital employees in the state were fully vaccinated.

"This is all about self-defense," says Hochul. "I'm here to defend the people of New York."

A group of health care workers took to the streets earlier, saying getting vaccinated should be a personal decision. They call themselves last year's heroes and this year's soon-to-be unemployed. That is unless something changes, and they are allowed back to work without the vaccine. They say their message is that they are not anti-vaccination but are anti-mandate.

Some vaccinated workers are standing united with their unvaccinated co-workers saying they should not have to choose between a vaccine and a job.

SUNY Chancellor Dr. Jim Malatras said in a letter that unvaccinated workers will be suspended and pending termination on Tuesday, Sept. 28 if SUNY employees fail to comply with the mandate by the end of Monday.