Vancouver Sun

Flu policy goes into effect at Vancouver hospitals

- TIFFANY CRAWFORD ticrawford@postmedia.com

Health officials in Vancouver are asking all hospital visitors who have not had a flu shot to wear a mask.

The policy is part of the province’s attempts to prevent the spread of flu and protect vulnerable patients from a potentiall­y fatal infection.

Vancouver Coastal Health’s medical health officer, Dr. Meena Dawar, said in a statement on Friday that flu can be devastatin­g for patients with chronic health problems including those with weakened immune systems.

She is urging people to get a flu shot if they haven’t already.

The policy applies to all patient care areas in Coastal Health hospitals, residentia­l care homes, community health care centres and other health facilities from now to around the end of March.

Surgical masks are available at nursing stations or at reception desks.

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