NY Hospital Stops Delivering Babies After Maternity Staffers Quit Over Vaccine Mandate

A New York hospital announced that it will no longer delivery babies due to a depleted number of maternity staff available.

The low count in workers was a result of Lewis County General Hospital's enforcing of the city's COVID vaccine mandate — which dictates that workers must be fully vaccinated in order to remain employed.

An total of six workers in the New York hospital's maternity ward have decided to leave their positions rather than abide by the hospital's ultimatum.

Lewis County Health System Chief Executive Officer Gerald Cayer responded to the news, stating that the hospital will suspend delivery services by end of September and will focus on finding fully vaccinated medical staff.

"If we can pause the service and now focus on recruiting nurses who are vaccinated, we will be able to reengage in delivering babies here in Lewis County," said the executive, noted in an interview with NY 7 News.

"Our hope is as we get closer (to the deadline), the numbers will increase of individuals who are vaccinated, fewer individuals will leave and maybe, with a little luck, some of those who have resigned will reconsider," added Cayer. 

According to the report, a total of 165 hospital workers confirmed that they have yet to receive the vaccine, which will become an infringement on New York City's COVID policy for all healthcare workers to be vaccinated by September 27 — a policy enacted by defunct New York governor Andrew Cuomo.

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