Two of New Jersey’s largest hospitals and healthcare providers have announced the firing of hundreds of employees over their vaccination status. New Jersey healthcare workers, under an executive order signed by Governor Phil Murphy, had until Friday, October 15th to get the jab or lose their jobs.
On Monday, Virtua Health and RWJ Barbabas Health announced that more than two hundred healthcare workers have been terminated.
“Regrettably, and despite all best efforts, 118 staff members have not complied with the mandate and are no longer employees of RWJBarnabas Health, per our vaccine mandate policy,” said RWJ spokeswoman Linda Kamateh. “62 of those staff members were per-diem employees who worked occasional shifts across our organization. While we take the loss of any team member seriously, we had anticipated some of our staff would not be in compliance and took steps to proactively recruit for positions deemed at-risk for vacancy.”
Virtua Health CEO Dennis Pullin said 120 employees at his six hospitals have been terminated.
“Unfortunately, about 120 people have elected to discontinue their employment due to the vaccination policy,” Pullin said. “While that is their right, we had hoped they would have chosen to receive this very safe and effective vaccine in order to protect themselves, our patients, and others. Vaccines are our best hope for reducing serious illness, long-term health problems, and loss of life from COVID-19.”