Health-care workers in B.C. who don't get a flu shot this year will be required to wear a mask when dealing with patients, which has left some groups up in arms while others are applauding.
The new regulation was announced Thursday by provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall, who noted only about half of health-care workers in B.C. get the flu vaccine.
The new rule is intended to reduce the risk of infection among the most vulnerable people in the province, such as the elderly.
The B.C. Nurses' Union, however, expressed concerns the health authorities are unfairly pressuring health-care workers to get the vaccine.
In response to the union's concerns, representatives from the Health Employers' Association of B.C. and the chief medical officer from the Fraser Health Authority met Monday to discuss the issue.
Margaret Dhillon, executive councillor for the B.C. Nurses' Union, said the union is satisfied with the health authority's agreement to consult on a regular basis with union representatives regarding this new policy.
"BCNU continues to encourage our members to get a flu shot as a sound preventative health measure," she said. "We are pleased that the employer has agreed in this morning's meeting to consult with us on a regular basis as this policy is implemented, in order to address concerns that our members may have."
In an initial response to the new regulation, Dhillon called the flu vaccination program, "most effective when it is based on education and not punishment."
Meanwhile, the B.C. Lung Association is calling the health authority's decision a wise move.
"We are very supportive of the decision by British Columbia health authorities to require their staff, associates and volunteers take further measures to protect themselves and their patients from influenza," B.C. Lung Association CEO, Scott McDonald, said in a release on Friday.
"Each year, hundreds of people across B.C. die from complications due to influenza, and the people who health-care workers come into contact with are among the most vulnerable. This step will protect patients and reduce the transmission of flu."
