Getty/Mladen Antonov
- Houston Methodist Hospital has suspended 178 employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19.
- He told employees this week that those who are unvaccinated are suspended for two weeks without pay.
- He said that 24,947 employees were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
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A hospital system in Houston suspended 178 employees without pay for two weeks after they opted not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Houston Methodist Hospital CEO Marc Book said in an internal letter this week shared with the Washington Post that 24,947 employees were fully vaccinated, but many were not.
He said that 285 employees received medical or religious exemptions from the vaccine and another 332 were granted health deferrals, but he said 178 others had no reason not to get the shot.
"Of these employees, 27 have received one dose of vaccine, so I am hopeful they will get their second doses soon," Boom wrote about the 178 suspended workers.
"I know that today may be difficult for some who are sad about losing a colleague who's decided to not get vaccinated," he added. "We only wish them well and thank them for their past service to our community, and we must respect the decision they made."