British Columbia Health Sciences Association
300-5118 Joyce Street
Vancouver, BC
V5R 4H1
Monday, December 4, 2017
HARD NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The argument rises as healthcare workers are asked to wear a mask or get a flu shot
Vancouver, B.C. – Dec.4, 2017 Arbitrator Robert Diebolt made his ruling today that health-care workers must get a flu shot or wear a mask when caring for patients during flu season. The B.C. health Sciences Association complained the policy violates employees’ rights and filed a grievance against the government.
“Our members believed they had a right to make personal health-care decisions, but this policy
-More-
says that’s not the case,” said Val Avery, president of the Health Sciences Association.
Influenza or “flu” is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus that typically starts with a headache, chills and cough. Between 2,000 and 8,000 Canadians can die of influenza and its complications annually, depending on the severity of the season.
After the rule was released, there were a lot of disappointed opinions.
Doctors, nurses and other health-care employees are not the only affected ones.
“Some psychiatric patients are affected too as they become more paranoid or suspicious when they see nurses or doctors wearing masks,” said Debbie Hodges, a psychiatric nurse in Powell River, B.C.
The B.C Health Sciences Association is the union representing health-care workers in British Columbia.
-30-
CONTACT:
Kaitlyn Nguyen
Bachelor of Public Relations
434-2333-1133
kaitlynnguyen1011@gmail.com
#Projects #MediaRelations