Nearly 50 Crouse Hospital employees are out of a job for not complying with a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Hospital administrators confirmed a total of 45 workers were terminated for refusing to comply with the state's vaccination mandate, though the affected staff members will be rehired if they get their shots. 

Monday marked the statewide deadline for health care workers to be vaccinated, despite any previously granted religious exemptions. 

The state mandate was issued back in September, requiring workers at hospitals and nursing homes to receive at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or face termination. 

The only exceptions to the mandate were those whose vaccination conflicted with religion or health issues. These religious exemptions were revoked by a court ruling earlier this month. 

Mohawk Valley Health System CEO Darlene Stromstad said Tuesday the organization, like so many others, is dealing with a staffing shortage, prompted in part by the vaccine mandate.

Many submitted religious accommodations, but the state required those workers to get their first vaccine dose by Monday, Nov. 22. 

"We are still seeing an unvaccinated rate, and it changes every day, of more than 100, plus the other 75 we lost earlier this fall," Stromstad said.

While the deadline is up for those workers, MVHS is giving those employees, who are now on unpaid administrative leave, until Nov. 30 to get vaccinated.

"If they come back by Nov. 30 with proof of vaccine, they will go right back into their job with their benefits and everything fully acknowledged," said Stromstad.

Stromstad said the organization has a 15% vacancy rate among registered nurses, so like other hospitals, they're hiring travel nurses, but it's pricey.

"$1.9 million for six weeks of 42 nurses," she said. "So this is definitely a financial stress on our organization, and it is for organizations all across the country."

Despite the added costs, and extra work for current employees caused by the vacancies, the organization is not going on diversion.

The CEO said they're limiting some elected surgeries, and some services may be delayed.

"This needs to be a topic of conversation; the fact that we don't have enough health care workers to take care of the people that need help," Stromstad said.

Despite everything going on, Stromstad is encouraging people to continue to visit the ER for emergencies.

The CEO of St. Joseph's Health in Syracuse said 67 of their colleagues, about half of whom are part time, have been suspended without pay for not complying with vaccine mandates.

The CEO said those colleagues need to receive their second dose of a two-shot vaccine by Dec. 15 or they'll be suspended without pay.

Those who refuse to get vaccinated by Jan. 8 will be terminated.