More than 100 workers at St. Joseph’s Health in Syracuse were terminated during the pandemic because they didn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine when it was mandated by the government.

Now, with the requirement in the process of being repealed, St. Joseph’s Health leaders are asking those former employees to come back.

“We're reaching out to them now and hopefully, we'll be able to make contact with as many of them as possible and offer them opportunities to return," said Dr. Philip Falcone, the chief medical officer of St. Joseph's Health.

Falcone said the COVID-19 vaccines are effective and safe, and though not required, are recommended. But he said COVID hospitalizations and deaths are at the lowest levels they’ve seen throughout the pandemic.

Falcone said the requirement has been a barrier to hiring staff, staff they could really use right now, so he’s excited to have a wider hiring pool and hopefully welcome some familiar faces back to the facility.

“We have a very strong team that is out there right now, as I said, contacting each of these employees, offering them employment. We certainly hold no strong feelings against people who left because of this. We understand completely. It was something that we had to do. We did not really have a lot of choice in this matter. So we certainly would welcome back anyone who wants to return to work here. We'd be thrilled," said Falcone.

About 75 to 80% of the positions staff had previously been terminated from are available. Leaders are looking to fill mostly clinical patient-facing nursing care positions.

Other vaccine requirements are still set at St. Joseph’s Health. Falcone said they’re the more typical ones, such as measles and mumps.