https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/new-yorks-largest-healthcare-provider-fires-1400-unvaccinated-workers-2021-10-04/ Skip to main content * World * Business * Legal * Markets * More [ ] Sign In Register Menu October 4, 20219:58 PM UTCLast Updated ago United States New York's largest healthcare provider fires 1,400 unvaccinated workers Reuters * * * * * 1 minute read A Northwell Health lab technician uses the Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 rapid tester on a participant before a news conference, at a pop up COVID-19 vaccination sight at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, U.S., April 14, 2021. Mary Altaffer/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo A Northwell Health lab technician uses the Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 rapid tester on a participant before a news conference, at a pop up COVID-19 vaccination sight at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, U.S., April 14, 2021. Mary Altaffer/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Oct 4 (Reuters) - New York State's largest healthcare provider, Northwell Health, has fired 1,400 employees who refused to get COVID-19 vaccinations, according to a spokesman, Joe Kemp. As with other healthcare companies that have recently terminated workers for not complying with vaccine mandates, the fired employees represent a small percentage of Northwell's workforce of more than 76,000, all of whom are now inoculated. New York's vaccination mandate for healthcare workers went into effect last week. Several other states, including California, have imposed similar measures. Officials have credited the requirements with increasing the rate of vaccination, though a small number of employees have decided they would rather lose their jobs than get shots. Northwell announced its vaccine mandate in August, weeks before the state requirement. The company's mandate extended to both clinical and non-clinical workers. "Our goal was not to terminate employees," Kemp said. "Our goal was to get people vaccinated." Kemp said the terminations will have no impact on patient care at Northwell's 23 hospitals and other facilities. "Northwell regrets losing any employee under such circumstances," the company said in a statement. "We owe it to our staff, our patients and the communities we serve to be 100 percent vaccinated against COVID-19." Reporting by Joseph Ax Editing by Sonya Hepinstall Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. More from Reuters Sign up for our newsletter Subscribe for our daily curated newsletter to receive the latest exclusive Reuters coverage delivered to your inbox. Sign up United States United States * 9:45 PM UTC Biden struggles to secure his 'New Deal' to transform U.S. economy Last October, presidential candidate Joe Biden flew to Warm Springs, Georgia just days before the national election, to compare his ambitions with those of the United States' longest-serving president. United States New U.S. legislation seeks to expand protections for election workers 10:04 PM UTC United States Back in black: U.S. Supreme Court opens its momentous new term 5:58 PM UTC United States Hollywood producers, union to meet after vote authorizing strike 10:46 PM UTC United States Pharmacy chains failed to prevent opioid misuse, U.S. jury hears 10:55 PM UTC Browse * World * Business * Legal * Markets * Breakingviews * Technology * Investigations * Lifestyle About Reuters * About Reuters * Careers * Reuters News Agency * Brand Attribution Guidelines * Reuters Leadership * Reuters Fact Check * Reuters Diversity Report Stay Informed * Download the App * Newsletters Information you can trust Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world's largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Follow Us * * * * * Thomson Reuters Products * Westlaw Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. * Onesource The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. * Checkpoint The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. Refinitiv Products * Eikon Information, analytics and exclusive news on financial markets - delivered in an intuitive desktop and mobile interface. * Refinitiv Data Platform Access to real-time, reference, and non-real time data in the cloud to power your enterprise. * World-Check Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. * Advertise With Us * Advertising Guidelines * Cookies * Terms of Use * Privacy * Corrections * Site Feedback All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. (c) 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved