The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota terminated 700 unvaccinated employees, just weeks after other nurses pleaded with hospital CEOs in the state to address the ongoing staffing crisis.
“While Mayo Clinic is saddened to lose valuable employees, we need to take all the steps necessary to keep our patients, workforce, visitors and communities safe,” the clinic said in a statement. “If individuals released from employment choose to get vaccinated at a later date, the opportunity exists for them to apply and return to Mayo Clinic for future job openings.”
The workers had until Monday to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, per Fox News. The 700 terminated workers represent about 1 percent of the medical center’s 73,000 employees.
“While final numbers are still not available, nearly 99% of staff across all Mayo Clinic locations have complied with the required vaccination program, meaning they have been vaccinated or have received medical or religious exemptions,” the clinic added.
Right before Christmas, nurses represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association urged hospital CEOs in the state to address the staffing crisis.
“To our patients, I want to say this: Nurses will be here when you need us,” Mary C. Turner, union president and a COVID-19 intensive care unit nurse, said at the press conference. “To our hospital CEOs and elected officials, please hear us: Nurses need more than words, we need action to address the crisis of staffing and retention in Minnesota hospitals.”
