MN-Based Mayo Clinic Fires 700 Unvaccinated Employees

ROCHESTER, MN — The Mayo Clinic has fired approximately 700 employees over lack of compliance with the health system's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The employees let go makeup about one percent of the system's overall staff.

Since Jan. 3, the Mayo Clinic has required all of its employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19. The system employees 73,000 people across the country.

"Nearly 99% of employees across all Mayo Clinic locations complied with Mayo’s required COVID-19 vaccination program by the Jan. 3 deadline," Kelley R. Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Department of Public Affairs, said in a statement.

"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."

If workers who were let go choose to get vaccinated at a later date, they can reapply for openings at the Mayo Clinic.

"Based on science and data, it's clear that vaccination keeps people out of the hospital and saves lives," Luckstein added. "That’s true for everyone in our communities – and it’s especially true for the many patients with serious or complex diseases who seek care at Mayo Clinic each day."

The Mayo Clinic is one of the dozens of Minnesotan companies that require employees to be vaccinated.