According to TVLine, the "General Hospital" vaccine mandate was set to go into effect on Nov. 1, 2021, and actors who did not comply would be let go from the show. The outlet confirmed that openly anti-vaccine actor Ingo Rademacher was no longer with the soap, and his last episode would air on Nov. 22. Rademacher frequently posted his anti-vaccine stance on Instagram, and, on Nov. 7, he shared the following message alongside a photo of himself: "I will stand with you to fight for medical freedom. #medicalfreedom #nomandates #woke #awakening #coersionisnotconsent"

With Burton remaining mum about his vaccination status, his status with the show remains just as vague. However, the Toronto Sun reports that sources revealed that Burton has left "General Hospital." In 2012, Burton already left the soap and the role of Jason, which he started playing back in the early 1990s, only to return in 2017 (via Soap Central). Neither ABC nor the actor has confirmed whether he would be leaving again.