People who work at two local hospitals must get vaccinated by Sept. 1 or they could lose their jobs.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, which has three hospitals in Westchester County, just became the first hospital system in the state to require employees get the COVID-19 vaccine.

"The time is now for us to take a position as a leading health care organization for our patients and for a team members," said Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Laura Forese.

Forese says all of the systems' 48,000 employees have until the first of September to get at least one dose of the vaccine.

If employees refuse the vaccine, they could be out of a job.

"We are going to do everything we can that it doesn't get to that point but yes, it will be a condition of employment," said Forese.

The New York State Nurses Association strongly opposes a vaccine mandate as a condition of employment, while the president of Greater New York Hospital Association supports it, saying in a statement, "Hospitals are committed to delivering the best health care for our patients. A fully vaccinated workforce helps in this mission."

Statewide, less than 72% of hospital workers are fully vaccinated, but in the Hudson Valley the numbers vary. According to the state's Department of Health, Putnam County has the lowest vaccination rate of hospital workers with just 55% fully vaccinated, while Orange County has the highest rate at 81%.

NewYork-Presbyterian is allowing for medical and religious exemptions, which employees must apply for by Aug. 1.

The vaccine mandate comes after a federal judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit over a hospital vaccine mandate in Houston.