A hospital in upstate New York will temporarily stop delivering babies in light of several maternity staff members resigning over a COVID-19 mandate.
NBC New York reports Lewis County General Hospital in Lowville, New York parted ways with six maternity unit workers this week after the individuals objected to a September 27 deadline to receive a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We are unable to safely staff the service after September 24. The number of resignations received leaves us no choice but to pause delivering babies at Lewis County General Hospital,” Chief Executive Officer Gerald R. Cayer said in a press conference Friday. “It is my hope that the (state) Department of Health will work with us in pausing the service rather than closing the maternity department.”
According to the Watertown Daily Times, the hospital fears that seven other unvaccinated people in maternity may also decide to leave.
Less than a month after the vaccine was mandated on August 23, 30 staff members have already resigned from their health care roles— 20 of whom worked in clinical positions, such as nurses, therapists and technicians.
“Essential health services are not at risk because of the mandate,” Cayer said. “The mandate ensures we will have a healthy workforce and we are not responsible for (causing COVID-19) transmission in or out of our facilities.”
Cayer continued, “The COVID-19 vaccines are effective and when combined with masking, health care workers, patients, residents, visitors and the larger community are provided the highest level of protection. We as employees have an obligation not to put those that we care for or our coworkers at risk.”
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