CARBONDALE, Ill. (WJPF) — 97.4% of SIH employees have received their COVID-19 vaccine.

The hospital system says 160 workers have left their jobs, citing refusal to get the vaccine. SIH employs about 3,600 people in total.

In August, SIH announced all employees would have to be vaccinated by November 8th. Governor JB Pritzker has issued an executive order mandating healthcare workers be vaccinated as well.

SIH President and CEO Rex Budde says their position on vaccines is not changing, stating “Our values are not transitory; they are cast in stone. We are committed to providing a safe place for our staff to work and for our patients to receive care.”