NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Northwell Health on Monday said it has fired 1,400 employees for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to a hospital spokesperson, the rest of the hospital system’s 76,000 staff members have all chosen to receive their shot.
“Northwell regrets losing any employee under such circumstances, but as health care professionals and members of the largest health care provider in the state, we understand our unique responsibility to protect the health of our patients and each other,” the hospital system said in a statement.
It remains unclear what the job titles were for the 1,400 employees who were fired.
Last week, the hospital network also fired around two dozen unvaccinated employees in leadership roles.
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The firings coincided with New York State’s mandate that all healthcare and nursing home workers receive at least their first dose of a vaccine by Sept. 27.
With the firing of its unvaccinated staff, Northwell Health noted it now boasts a 100% vaccination rate among employees.
“Northwell Health is proud to announce that our workforce – the largest in New York State – is 100% vaccinated,” the hospital said in a statement. “This allows us to continue to provide exceptional care at all of our facilities, without interruption and remain open and fully operational.”
A spokesperson said the hospital “believes that having a fully vaccinated workforce is an important measure in our duty to protect the health and safety of our staff, our patients and the communities we serve.”