All
employees, residents, contractors and volunteers will need to be
vaccinated at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, the first elder care community in
New York that received the
COVID-19 vaccine.
CEO
Daniel Reingold said he made the announcement to give “people an opportunity to
get more educated about the safety of the vaccine, to learn whatever they need
to learn about how important and safe and effective it is."
The
deadline is Oct. 1.
More
than 80% of staff and 87% of its residents are fully vaccinated so far.
The hope is that the requirement will help close the gap.
The
vaccine will be required at all its long-term care, independent and assisted
living facilities. The Hebrew Home at Riverdale will be reaching out to those
who haven't been vaccinated to address their concerns and will continue to
offer for free weekly vaccinations.
Nurse
educator Aleta Ashley said she also believed now is the time to mandate
vaccinations.
“Some
of the staff is still uncertain for various reasons, but…they have to come to
the realization that for the safety of our staff, for the safety of our
residents, that it's necessary,” she said.