By Staff, Agencies More than 150 employees at one of Texas' largest hospitals have been made redundant or resigned after refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19, a spokesperson for the facility said. The Houston Methodist Hospital had given its staff until June 7 to certify their vaccination, with at least a first dose.

An internal note specified that those who refused would be suspended for two weeks without pay, then dismissed.

Plant spokeswoman Gale Smith said Tuesday that 153 employees had "either resigned during the two-week suspension period or were laid off today." "Employees who complied [with the directive] during the suspension period returned to work the day after their compliance," she added.

Employees had filed a complaint against the hospital, believing the obligation of vaccination illegal because the vaccines were approved by the American health authorities only as part of an emergency use procedure.

The complaint was dismissed by a judge who said the safety of vaccines is not in question