Six unvaccinated hospital workers were fired in New Jersey for refusing to follow the hospital’s coronavirus vaccine mandate, The Hill reported Wednesday.
RWJBarnabas Health first revealed its vaccination policy in late May, requiring team members at the “supervisory level and above” to be inoculated by June 30. At the time, the hospital said a majority of staff had already been fully vaccinated, although it did not specify the numbers.
“As of July 14, 2,979 staff members, or 99.7%, who are at the supervisor level and above, have been fully vaccinated or received medical and religious exemptions or a deferral,” RWJBarnabas told The Hill.
“Regrettably, six staff at the supervisor level and above have not complied with the mandate and are no longer employees of RWJBH, per our policy,” the hospital said. It further said it would require all staff and physicians to get vaccinated in the coming days.
The firings were previously reported by NBC News. The hospital said that shots would “eventually” be required for all staff in the coming days.
The news comes as a host of hospitals across the country begin enforcing their vaccination mandates.
Earlier in July, the Medical University of South Carolina fired five staffers for failing to comply with the hospital’s vaccination policy. The hospital also gave its employees until June 30 to get immunized.