Heritage Village P-J file photo

Heritage Ministries said it has lost 9% of its New York workforce leading up to Monday’s deadline requiring hospital and nursing home workers be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The nonprofit organization that offers rehabilitation, skilled nursing and assisted living options at several locations in Chautauqua County previously estimated that up to 100 unvaccinated employees would leave or be terminated due to the New York state mandate.

“When we speak of losing 9%, it simply represents the percentage of our staff, who after many years of loyal service, choose not to be vaccinated,” said Lisa Haglund, Heritage president and CEO. “While we wish them the best in the future, we also support the vaccine and recognize we are called to protect our residents. As far as who resigned or was (terminated), everyone had the option to receive the vaccine and maintain employment with Heritage or in the health care field.”

She added, “One of the substantial losses from the pandemic is the loss of valued staff over the past year. Our teams have given so much, and walked in to fight this pandemic head on. They are exhausted and we as a community have to find ways to show them our appreciation.”

Health care workers at hospitals and nursing homes in New York were required to be vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the day Monday.

UPMC Chautauqua did not respond to a request Monday on its vaccination rate among staff. However, the state reported that, as of Sept. 21, all but 3% of the Jamestown hospital’s staff had been vaccinated. That same report noted that 79% of staff at Westfield Memorial Hospital was vaccinated.

Late last week, the Brooks-TLC Health System in Dunkirk reported 9% — 51 of 573 workers — had yet to receive a dose of the vaccine. “We are getting there,” said Mary LaRowe, president and chief executive officer of Brooks-TLC , “but the 9% not vaccinated is still 9% of our workforce. And, while that number is on par with what other Western New York hospitals face, in a rural healthcare system the size of ours, the loss challenges our operations.”

Regarding skilled nursing, the state said 93% of residents and staff in Chautauqua County facilities were vaccinated as of Sunday. When it comes to adult care, the state said 94% of residents and 73% of staff were vaccinated locally.

2 NEW DEATHS RECORDED

The Chautauqua County Department of Health reported two new virus-related deaths as well as 193 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend.

To date there have been 181 virus-related deaths and 11,794 confirmed cases in the county along with 11,190 recoveries. There are currently 423 active cases, from information collected Friday through Sunday and representing a drop of 43; 35 people with the virus in the hospital, a drop of one from the previous day; and 1,217 people in quarantine, an increase of 25.

Of the new cases reported, 65 came from people residing in the Jamestown zip code. In Dunkirk, 26 cases were recorded and 21 each in Silver Creek and Fredonia. Five each were noted in Westfield, Mayville and Lakewood.

According to state data, 63.7% of the county’s population over the age of 12 has received at least one dose of the vaccine while 58% have been fully vaccinated.