Flu shot program should be based on education, not punishment: union

The B. C. Nurses’ Union is concerned about the “punitive” approach the province is taking by forcing health care workers to get flu shots or wear masks when treating patients.

On Thursday, provincial health officer Perry Kendall announced that doctors, nurses and other health care professionals would be subject to new regulations by the end of this year, in an attempt to reduce the risk of infections and increase the 50- per- cent influenza vaccination rate he called “staggeringly low.”

The union said in a statement Friday that, while nurses were encouraged to get flu shots, “We have always believed that the flu vaccination program is most effective when it is based on education and not punishment.”

Margaret Dhillon, BCNU executive councillor, said the regulation implies nurses could be disciplined or lose their jobs for refusing to get a vaccine.

Discussions between the union, a chief medical officer and the Health Employers’ Association of B. C. will take place on Monday, Dhillon said.

She questioned why a provincial joint committee working on a provincial plan to encourage immunization among health care workers was allowed to become defunct a year ago, and why the BCNU was not consulted on the new regulations.

Many people, including health care workers refuse to get some vaccines mainly due to misinformation about the risks associated with immunization, said Dhillon, who said she does get a flu shot annually.

The new flu shot requirements were backed by the BC Centre for Disease Control, but the Hospital Employees’ Union stated a preference for keeping vaccinations voluntary.

The B. C. Civil Liberties Association also said it would be studying the new protocol.