BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Kaleida Health has fired another 100 unvaccinated workers who previously were able to get by the vaccine mandate with a religious exemption. 

These workers had until Sunday to get the shot. This brings the number of workers fired by Kaleida to roughly 200 since the first deadline for vaccinations in November.

Kaleida officials say they are now postponing inpatient elective surgeries deemed non-essential at Buffalo General Medical Center and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.

“We continue to consult with our physician leadership as well as surgical leadership teams to manage the number of elective inpatient surgeries on a daily basis that require an overnight stay,” Dr. Michael Mineo, chief medical officer for Buffalo General Medical Center and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, says. “This will ensure that, as a health system, we are appropriately managing patient care and community need amid this current surge in COVID-19 cases.”

Outside of Kaleida, non-essential elective surgeries must be postponed at a number of area hospitals, including the following:

• Erie County Medical Center (ECMC)
• Mercy Hospital
• Sisters of Charity Hospital
• Mount St. Mary’s Hospital
• Brooks Memorial Hospital
• UPMC Chautauqua
• Wyoming County Community Health System

Catholic Health says that on Tuesday, termination letters are going out to about 180 unvaccinated workers. And News 4 has also learned that 40 employees at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center are losing their jobs.