Gov. Hochul: ‘God wants you to be vaccinated’

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC)— With just a day before a vaccination mandate for healthcare workers is set to take effect in New York State, Gov. Kathy Hochul Sunday shared some strong words for the unvaccinated

Hochul attended a service at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, telling the parishioners God wants them to be vaccinated.

" Yes, I know you’re vaccinated. they’re the smart ones, but you know, there are people out there who aren’t listening to god and what god wants. you know, this, you know who they are," Hochul said. "I need you to be my apostles, I need you to go out and talk about it and say, we owe this to each other. we love each other. Jesus taught us to love one another. and how do you show that love, but to care about each other enough to say, please get vaccinated because I love you. I want you to live."

As for Monday’s mandate, Hochul Saturday announced the state could declare a State of Emergency that seeks to increase workforce supply and allow qualified health care professionals licensed in other states or countries, recent graduates, retired and formerly practicing health care professionals to practice in New York State.

According to data from the Finger Lakes Vaccine Hub, 63.1% of the eligible population in the region has completed the vaccine series, while 70.3% has at least one dose. Hospital leaders with the University of Rochester Medical Center said 99% of professional medical staff and 91% of all employees across the six UR hospitals were partially or fully vaccinated as of last Monday.

The Department of Labor says workers who are terminated because of refusal to be vaccinated are not eligible for unemployment insurance unless they have a valid doctor-approved request for medical accommodation.