October 14, 2021

Possible SARS-CoV-2 Persistence: Further Expanding Covid-19 Booster Eligibility

Dr. Robert A. Michaels,NYPPL's science consultant, in an article posted on Research Gate, reports that in the Fall of 2021, the US FDA and CDC expanded eligibility for Pfizer Covid-19 booster shots but imposed inadvisable restrictions.

Two issues support unrestricted booster eligibility: SARS-CoV-2 is strongly selected for exploiting personal immunological weaknesses, resulting in weakened immune protection and slower immune response with increasing viral adaptation. Further, the virus might be persistent, which means that it might remain dormant in immune-privileged 'refugia' such as the central nervous system of previously infected people, even if their Covid-19 symptoms had been mild or non-existent.

Opportunistic re-activation of dormant viruses can cause severe illness, as in childhood chickenpox producing adult shingles decades later. External re-infection is unnecessary. Consistent with the 'precautionary principle', the overriding FDA and CDC public health priority should be to prevent as many SARS-CoV-2 infections as possible, not tolerate them, assuming optimistically that they will not impose major public health and associated economic burdens in the future.

Click HEREto access the complete text of Dr. Michaels' Research Gate article.

October 13, 2021

Health Plan Surcharge for Unvaccinated Employees: New Guidance Provides a Roadmap

Guideline addressing health plan surcharges for unvaccinated employees

Click HERE to access the article by Timothy J. Stanton and Jessica E. Kuester of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

New York State Comptroller DiNapoli releases dashboard tracking federal covid funding and state relief programs

On October 13, 2021, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today the launch of his new online tool to monitor spending of federal recovery aid and COVID-19 relief programs in the state, including funds for excluded workers, childcare providers, emergency rental and homeowner assistance, and small business recovery.

The dashboard explains each federal and state program, and how much has been received and spent to date. The data will be updated monthly and expanded to include additional programs and spending details as new information becomes available. New Yorkers can use the tool to understand how federal aid is used and to inform future conversations about budget priorities.

Funds received and spent through Sept. 30, 2021 are listed in the table below. Some insights from the tracker include:

The Excluded Workers Fund has disbursed $968.5 million of $2.1 billion; the state budget forecasts it will be fully disbursed in the current fiscal year.
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is forecast to be fully disbursed in State Fiscal Year 2022-23; $696.4 million of the $2.85 billion has been disbursed.

For a specific breakdown of spending, contact the agency overseeing the program area. In some limited instances, the Comptroller’s office can provide more detailed information.

Dashboard = Interactive Federal Funding and Relief Programs Tracker

Monitor spending of federal recovery aid and COVID-19 relief programs in New York State

Funds received and spent through Sept. 30, 2021 are listed in the table below. Some insights from the tracker include:

The Excluded Workers Fund has disbursed $968.5 million of $2.1 billion; the state budget forecasts it will be fully disbursed in the current fiscal year.
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is forecast to be fully disbursed in State Fiscal Year 2022-23; $696.4 million of the $2.85 billion has been disbursed.

For a specific breakdown of spending, contact the agency overseeing the program area. In some limited instances, the Comptroller’s office can provide more detailed information.

Dashboard = Interactive Federal Funding and Relief Programs Tracker

Health Plan Surcharge for Unvaccinated Employees: New Guidance Provides a Roadmap

Guideline addressing health plan surcharges for unvaccinated employees

Click HERE to access the article by Timothy J. Stanton and Jessica E. Kuester of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

CAUTION

Subsequent court and administrative rulings, or changes to laws, rules and regulations may have modified or clarified or vacated or reversed the information and, or, decisions summarized in NYPPL. For example, New York State Department of Civil Service's Advisory Memorandum 24-08 reflects changes required as the result of certain amendments to §72 of the New York State Civil Service Law to take effect January 1, 2025 [See Chapter 306 of the Laws of 2024]. Advisory Memorandum 24-08 in PDF format is posted on the Internet at https://www.cs.ny.gov/ssd/pdf/AM24-08Combined.pdf. Accordingly, the information and case summaries should be Shepardized® or otherwise checked to make certain that the most recent information is being considered by the reader.

NYPPL Blogger Harvey Randall served as Principal Attorney, New York State Department of Civil Service; Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations; and Staff Judge Advocate General, New York Guard. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.