Sanford Health loses 31 employees to vaccine mandate

November 2, 2021

FARGO, N.D.  – Sanford Health says out of approximately 9,800 employees who work in the Fargo region, 31 employees have left as a result of the company’s vaccine mandate.

Vice-President Dr. Doug Griffin says Sanford employees who didn’t have an approved exemption or who haven’t started their vaccine series by yesterday (Monday) will be suspended for up to 60 days without pay and removed from the work schedule.

Griffin says failure to comply with the company’s COVID-19 vaccine requirements within 60 days will result in the employee being considered to have voluntarily resigned.

Essentia Health, which is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota says 49 workers have been dismissed. Essentia says it plans to rehire the workers if they change their minds about getting the vaccine.