Important Update to Masking and Eye Protection Requirements, May 11, 2023

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Ends Today, By Order of HHS, May 11, 2023

For the latest COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Protocols, click here.

For the latest COVID-19 Isolation and Return to Work Protocols for VNS Health’s Health Care Workers, please click here.

For the COVID-19 Eye Protection Fact Sheet, click here. (Adapted from APIC’s COVID-19 eye protection fact sheet.)

PPE Order Form Links:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Form (English)
• Formulario de pedido de equipo de protección personal (PPE) (Spanish)
• 个人防护装备 (PPE) 订单 (Chinese)

*If you need help filling out the form, contact your supervisor.

You are required to complete a self-assessment survey each day before you go to work. To complete the survey each morning through the CareConnect App, you will get a text or email reminder with a link to the survey. If you are not getting these texts or email reminders, please call your supervisor to update your contact information. You can also log into the CareConnect application and click on the banner on the top of the screen to complete the survey.

Every U.S. household may place an order to receive four (4) free COVID-⁠19 rapid tests delivered directly to your home. Click the button below for more information.

If you were not vaccinated at VNS Health, please be sure to send us a copy of your vaccination documentation. Submit your documentation by:

• Mail to: Personal Care Health Services, 5 Penn Plaza, 12th Floor, New York, New York, 10001
• Fax to 212-290-3184
• Email to [email protected]

Under the New York State mandate, medical exemptions will be granted only where you provide documentation of a contraindication, meaning you have a condition that would cause the COVID-19 vaccine to be harmful to your health. All documentation must be certified by a licensed healthcare provider (physician or nurse practitioner) and subject to review and approval by VNS Health. This documentation must be provided by September 27th in order for it to be processed in time for the October 7th deadline. Download the medical exemption request form with instructions on the process for submitting the form here.

A law was passed that employees are eligible to take paid time off when getting vaccinated against COVID-19 during their scheduled work day/shift. If you are vaccinated going forward (on or after March 13th), you are eligible to receive up to four hours of excused, paid time off from work per injection of the COVID-19 vaccine. For more information, click here.

Looking for a location for getting tested for COVID-19 nearest to you?

For New York State,  click here.

For New Jersey, click here.

For Connecticut, click here.

In this “Ask VNSNY” video, VNS Health HHA Michelle Brown encourages you to get the COVID vaccine if you haven’t already. As Michelle says, “If we all do it, we can put an end to this pandemic sooner rather than later.”  To hear Michelle’s story, click to see her video here.

See Selfie Videos Featuring VNS Health HHA Philip Holder before, during and after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, click here.

Here are some myths versus facts regarding the COVID-19 Vaccine from APIC (Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology).

Detailed information from the New York City Department of Health about COVID-19 vaccines.

For 1199 SEIU COVID-19 resources and vaccine information, check this page regularly for updates, information about benefits and what you need to know to protect yourself and your loved ones against the virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused much anxiety on everyone.  If you’d like to talk to a mental health counselor, you can contact one through 1199. In case it’s helpful, here’s a brochure that was created by 1199 on mental health support. Here are some other helpful resources:

-Try meditation by finding a quiet place and using this safe space video.

-Join one of our support group phone calls on Thursday’s each week. Look for the weekly emails and texts with information on how to join.

With COVID-19, things are changing all the time so we recommend checking out the following sites for trusted COVID-19 coronavirus updates: