UMass Memorial Health fires 200 caregivers who refused to get COVID vaccination
WORCESTER — UMass Memorial Health fired more than 200 caregivers who refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19, CEO and President Dr. Eric Dickson said Friday.
“Sadly, we did terminate over 200 people for not getting vaccinated,” Dickson confirmed Friday in an interview. “We could have used them because we need everyone we have right now.”
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UMass Memorial Health’s roughly 15,000 employees faced a Nov. 1 deadline to get vaccinated or to receive an exemption, after which they were placed on unpaid leave if they did not get a shot.
If employees did not get a shot before Dec. 1, they were let go.
“It was for the safety of other staff members and patients that we had to do this,” spokesperson Debora Spano said.
She added that fewer than 1%, or about 100 people, were given exemptions for religious or medical reasons.
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This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: UMass Memorial Health fires 200 caregivers who refused to get COVID vaccination
