Health workers awaiting decision on mandatory flu shots
Posted August 18, 2013 12:22 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It’s still unclear how far the province will go this year to get health workers vaccinated against the flu.
Last year’s plan would have seen health workers get their flu shot or be forced to wear a mask or face discipline.
The Health Sciences Association launched a grievance and the province backed off at least temporarily. The issue is still before the Labour Relations Board.
Arbitration continues next month, and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall is among those waiting for the outcome. “I can’t tell you now whether there will be any sort of disciplinary components to the policy in December until we’ve got the arbitrator’s ruling.”
“The degree to which this policy can be implemented in this fall, this coming influenza season, is at present uncertain,” he adds.
Kendall and the union hope to have an arbitrator’s decision prior to the start of this year’s flu season.
