Hospitals and nursing homes in New York are bracing for the possibility that a state-wide Covid-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers could lead to staff shortages when it takes effect on Monday.

Doctors and nurses and also support staff, like food service workers and cleaners, have been given until Sept 27 to get at least their first vaccine shot in one of the nation's most aggressive plans to protect patients, AP reports.

With just days left to go before the deadline, many still hadn't. That left the prospect of potentially thousands of healthcare workers being forced off the job next week.

With no sign of Governor Kathy Hochul backing down, hospitals and nursing homes were preparing contingency plans that included cutting back on elective surgeries and, at one hospital, halting maternity services.