Union, state clash over health care worker mask-or-flu-shot requirement
Patients may be "fearful" of the mask
The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) has filed a lawsuit in New York’s Supreme Court, challenging a rule that requires health care workers to either get flu vaccinations or wear surgical masks during flu season.
Frustrated by earlier efforts to force health care workers to get flu shots – which was also opposed by the union -- the state’s Health Commissioner, Nirav R. Shah issued the vaccination-or-mask regulation requiring persons working in patient care to wear surgical masks during flu season, if they have not been vaccinated against the flu.