Little more than two weeks before all BC health care workers face more pressure to get flu vaccinations, the BC Nurses Union is demanding the cancellation of what's being described as a 'coercive' policy.
Union President Debra McPherson says recent scientific reviews indicate studies being used to justify the policy are not credible.
"We encourage our members to still get a flu shot if they choose to because we think for whatever prevention it does provide for them, its the best we've got right now. Would we like to see something better? Absolutely. Would we like to see it forced on them with punitive measures? Absolutely not."
Chief Medical Health officer Perry Kendall says he will not recommend that health authorities lift the edict for a flu shot or a mask.
Kendall says the vast majority of public health doctors across Canada and the national advisory committee on immunization, as well as other experts, still believe the flu shot can save lives.
Kendall says he is concerned the union's complaints could dissuade health workers from getting immunized.