Syracuse, N.Y. — St. Joseph’s Health fired 111 nurses and other employees who refused to get state mandated Covid-19 vaccinations during the pandemic.
It’s hoping to rehire as many of them as possible now that the state has stopped enforcing the Covid vaccination mandate.
“Our talent acquisition team is actively contacting our former colleagues, encouraging them to consider returning to the organization,” Dr. Philip Falcone of St. Joe’s said in a prepared statement.
St. Joe’s has positions available for about 80% of the employees who were fired.
The state Health Department announced last week it has stopped enforcing the controversial mandate which is in the process of being repealed. The federal government has also dropped Covid vaccination requirements for hospitals and nursing homes as the pandemic has waned.
Crouse Hospital also wants to rehire nurses fired for refusing to get Covid shots. Crouse fired 28 nurses.
“We no longer are requiring Covid vaccination as a condition of employment,” said Bob Allen, a Crouse vice president.
Upstate University Hospital fired 43 nurses who refused to get the shots. Another 22 quit over the mandate.
Upstate did not respond when asked if it will try to rehire them.
About 10,555 healthcare workers statewide were fired for refusing to get Covid shots, according to data previously released by Gov Kathy Hochul’s office.
The terminations exacerbated a severe nursing shortage that forced some hospitals and nursing homes to turn away patients.
St. Joe’s is updating its policies to remove the Covid vaccine requirement for employees.
“We are now in a different phase of our response – with Covid absenteeism, hospitalizations and deaths at the lowest levels that we have seen throughout the pandemic,” Falcone said.
The mandate was enacted in August 2021 on an emergency basis by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Hochul and the state Health Department subsequently made the mandate permanent.
The mandate was struck down in a Jan. 13 decision by state Supreme Court Judge Gerard Neri. The decision came in a case brought by a group of medical professionals who lost or were at risk of losing their jobs because of the vaccine mandate.
The state Health Department subsequently appealed Neri’s decision and the state Supreme Court Appellate Division granted a temporary stay.
James T. Mulder covers health. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com
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