Thursday marked the deadline that home health care workers, and those working in assisted living facilities to receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The move is the latest step in New York state’s efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.

However, there is concern some homebound patients will be left without help.

At Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Commack, they say they are feeling confident in their vaccination process because of having one on one meetings with their staff to address concerns.

The facility says they have 162 home health aides and companions – seven which are not vaccinated. The facility says they estimate three or four will still choose not to get vaccinated by the end of the day today.

The mandate also impacts Gerwin’s assisted living branch. They say out of their 192 employees, eight will not get vaccinated. However, they feel by the end of the day, three will remain that way.

In addition, adult day care workers could be impacted, but the facility says 100% of those staff members have been vaccinated.

It is not clear how many home health aides the mandate will affect statewide. However, it is estimated it could be between 50,000 to 70,000 workers.

On a federal level, President Joe Biden is also making a push for private businesses with 100 or more employees to require staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine get tested weekly.

“This Labor Department vaccination requirement will cover 100 million Americans, about two-thirds of all the people who work in American,” Biden says. “And here’s the deal, these requirements are already proving that they work.”

New York City is also considering adding more vaccine mandates, including for the NYPD and FDNY.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea says he is supportive of a vaccine mandate.

“I think the science, the health, the emergency situation that we’re in, it makes sense,” Shea says.

The New York City Police Benevolence Association, however, is pushing back. PBA President Pat Lynch said in a statement in part: “In the PBA’s view, the COVID-19 vaccine is a medical decision that members must make in consultation with their own health care providers.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul also recently announced that vaccine mandates will begin Nov. 1 at New York’s Office of Mental Health and Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.