Watch above: For the first time, health care workers and visitors to provincial health facilities will have to get the flu shot or mask up. Wendy Winiewski finds out why the tough tactics this year.
SASKATOON – The provincial chief medical health officer declared Monday, Dec. 1 the official start of the 2014-15 influenza season. For the first time an obligation comes with it – from Dec. 1 through to April 3, all health care workers who have chosen not to be immunized against influenza must wear a mask in patient care areas.
“It has been shown that if you can achieve high immunization rates above 80 per cent, that you’re able to stop influenza from spreading within facilities,” said Cory Neudorf, the chief medical health officer for the Saskatoon Health Region (SHR).
READ MORE: Sask. implements flu shot or mask policy for health-care workers
The 2013-14 flu season in Saskatchewan resulted in 67 intensive care unit admissions and 16 deaths. This is the first year for the new provincial policy.
The policy also applies to all visitors who haven’t received the influenza vaccine. Upon entering any patient care facility, signs will indicate where masks can be obtained.
Additional staff have not been hired for monitoring.
“Generally it will be an honour system,” said Petrina McGrath, vice president of people, practice and quality.
“There’s hyper vigilance about asking and following up with people.”
Anticipating the policy’s implementation, the percentage of health care workers who’ve received the shot this year is up with all reporting health regions.
- Cypress – 76 per cent
- Five Hills – N/A
- Heartland – N/A
- Keewatin Yatthé – N/A
- Kelsey Trail – 86 per cent
- Mamawetan Churchill River – 75 per cent
- Prairie North – 70 per cent
- Prince Albert Parkland – N/A
- Regina Qu’Appelle – 75 per cent
- Saskatoon – 84 per cent
- Sun Country – 84 per cent
- Sunrise – 69 per cent
Read more: 5 ways to protect yourself from the flu
Last year at this time, the province’s largest health region, SHR, had an immunization rate of 59 per cent. Officials anticipate a decrease in staff sick leave, making the overall health care system more efficient.
The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses states “as the union representing close to 10,000 registered nurses in Saskatchewan, we strongly support increasing overall influenza immunization rates among healthcare workers; however, we believe this goal should be achieved by increasing awareness, education and access to immunization as opposed to mandating it.”
According to McGrath, options still remain.
“This is about a choice: immunize or mask.”
The masks are free to use and should be worn for a maximum of four hours.
The same policy was implemented in British Columbia in 2012. Since then, one nurse has been reportedly fired for non-compliance.
Comments