More than 150 employees at a Houston hospital system who refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine have been sacked or have resigned after a judge dismissed an employee lawsuit over the vaccine requirement.

A spokesperson for the Houston Methodist system said 153 employees either resigned in the two-week suspension period or were terminated on Tuesday, after the hospital’s management gave them a June 22 deadline to get vaccinated. 

Earlier this month, a federal judge threw out the lawsuit filed by employees over the requirement.

The Houston Methodist Hospital system initially suspended 178 employees without pay on June 8, over their refusal to get vaccinated.

Of them, 117 sued, seeking to overturn the requirement and their suspension and threatened termination while 25 eventually chose to get the jab and return to work.

Jared Woodfill, a Houston lawyer representing Bridges and the other clients, promised an appeal.