1,400 Northwell employees fired for refusing vaccine
Northwell: 1,400 employees fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccine
Northwell Health's vaccine mandate included all of its employees at every facility it operates, going beyond a state requirement. Credit: Northwell Health/Lee Weissman
Northwell Health said it had fired 1,400 employees for refusing the vaccine, and the rest of its systemwide workforce of around 76,000 has received at least one shot.
"Northwell regrets losing any employee under such circumstances, but as health care professionals and members of the largest health care providers in the state, we understand our unique responsibility to protect the health of our patients and each other," the health system said in a statement.
The system's own COVID-19 vaccination policy for its employees was more sweeping than the state mandate that went into effect on Sept. 27, requiring health care workers at hospitals and nursing homes to receive at least one dose of the vaccination by the deadline.
Meanwhile, a new group of health care workers in the state face a deadline to get vaccinated this week or risk losing their jobs.
Home health aides and staff at certain assisted living and adult care facilities as well as adult day health care programs will need to get at least one dose by Thursday, according to the mandate.
A map of vaccination rates in communities around Long Island:
This map shows vaccination rates across Long Island communities based on data as of Thursday.
Search the map and view charts showing the latest local trends in vaccinations, testing, hospitalizations, deaths and more.
Plus: This chart has the COVID-19 case data for Long Island’s 124 school districts. Every school district is required to report virus test results to the New York State Department of Health.
See more coronavirus headlines below.
Erin Serpico is an assistant web producer who joined Newsday in November 2018. Originally from New Jersey, she now covers community events and produces local content for newsday.com while also helping run the homepage.
