Prestigious Mayo Clinic fires 700 workers for failing to get COVID vaccine: Healthcare system says it is losing around 1% of employees who failed to get the jab

The prestigious Mayo Clinic fired 700 employees who refused to comply with the hospital’s COVID-19 vaccine policy.

Workers had until Monday to get their first shot or obtain a medical or religious exemption to the healthcare system’s vaccine mandate. The clinic, which is the largest employer in its home state of Minnesota, reportedly granted the majority of exemption requests.

‘While Mayo Clinic is saddened to lose valuable employees, we need to take all steps necessary to keep our patients, workforce, visitors and communities safe,’ the clinic told the Star Tribune.

‘If individuals released from employment choose to get vaccinated at a later date, the opportunity exists for them to apply and return to Mayo Clinic for future job openings.’

Mayo Clinic, which first informed employees about the vaccine mandate last July, has faced heavy criticism over the vaccination requirement. While primarily associated with Minnesota, where it was founded, the healthcare system also operates hospitals in Arizona, Florida, Iowa and Wisconsin.

A group of 38 lawmakers issued a letter to the hospital last month listing several reasons they should nix the policy, arguing the ‘heavy-handed, all-or-none employee policy does not fit the reputation or image we know the Mayo Clinic to have’.

On Monday, after learning of the firings, Minnesota Rep. Peggy Bennett – who orchestrated December’s letter – slammed the policy, which the clinic claims was made ‘based on science and data’.

‘We’re in a precarious situation and we need to look at this reasonably, rationally and with common sense,’ Bennett told KTTC. ‘Common sense tells me if everybody can catch it and spread it then why are we firing these employees?’

Rep. Tina Liebling, however, applauded the policy, saying: ‘Mayo Clinic is making these decisions based on its needs and I think that should be respected. I think Mayo should be able to make these decisions, it’s a private business.

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