WORCESTER, Mass. - Roughly 200 UMass Memorial Health employees are now out of their jobs after not getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

The hospital confirmed the firings, saying employees had a deadline of Dec. 1 to get vaccinated. A spokesperson for UMass Memorial Health says they had hoped all employees would get vaccinated, but the firings are a necessary means of protecting staff and patients. Employees were asked to get at least one shot, or receive a medical or religious exemption by Nov. 1.

Last month, UMass Memorial Health reported roughly 98% of its employees were vaccinated.