SASKATOON – The push to get the flu shot continues. On Friday, members of the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) gathered at TCU Place in Saskatoon for a regional assembly.
An onsite influenza vaccination station was set up to encourage medical health professionals to get their shot. The shot provide protection to loved ones and knowing physicians are less unlikely to spread influenza to patients.
On that note, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Health, Dustin Duncan, also rolled up his sleeve and got a needle right before addressing the crowd.
“That goes a long way to encouraging people that it is a good idea,” said Duncan.
But immunization numbers among the medical community aren’t as high as the province would like and so a change in policy is imminent according to Duncan.
“We’ll be issuing a policy statement to say that we strongly encourage if not a flu shot then putting a procedure mask over your face, over your mouth, while dealing with patients” said Duncan.
This is the first time the provincial government will publicly encourage wearing a mask.
The SMA is fully on board but admits the masks aren’t the most convenient
“The masks are not the heavier thicker masks that might be required, for example, in a SARS outbreak. They are procedure masks,” said Clare Kozroski, the president of SMA.
That ultimatum exists in B.C. where an arbitrator recently upheld a policy stating that health providers must get the shot or wear a mask.
The Saskatchewan government isn’t ready to push it that far.
“We’re going to do what we can to encourage it on a voluntary basis,” said Duncan.
The mask addendum will be issued by the provincial government in a policy statement next week.
In 2012, 62 per cent of employees within the Saskatoon Health Region were vaccinated for influenza. This year the health region says it’s aiming for 80 per cent compliance.
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