HPAE Statement on Gov. Murphy signing the COVID-19 Workplace Data law

The following statement can be attributed to HPAE President Debbie White, RN.

As New Jersey begins to rollout vaccination efforts, HPAE healthcare workers applaud Governor Murphy’s insistence that frontline caregivers need to be at the front of the vaccine line, so they can continue to safely provide care for COVID-19 patients. Such an undertaking to distribute the vaccine takes time and thorough planning. This is not a simple task and we commend the Administration for efforts to prioritize healthcare workers.

While many healthcare workers have been vaccinated, there are still many more who remain unvaccinated and we have yet to understand the full impact this virus has had on our essential front line care-givers.

We applaud, Governor Murphy, who today signed a transparency law to collect and report to the state Department of Health, the data on the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers in New Jersey hospitals. Front line essential healthcare workers have been and continue to be exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace. Many HPAE members continue to struggle with long term effects of the virus after being exposed to the virus at work. Six that we know of have died.

Getting accurate data on healthcare worker exposure and COVID illness is critical to understanding healthcare worker safety during a pandemic outbreak. That is why HPAE members appreciate the work of our legislators in approving this important bill. We applaud Gov. Murphy for signing it into law. It is important that this information is not only collected, but also analyzed, to guide future policy in protecting those workers who are exposed and at-risk.

Fore more information, contact: Michael Allen, (646) 436-7556