Unvaccinated Hospital Employees To Wear Masks

A Missoula hospital has a new policy requiring employees who haven't had a flu shot this season to wear surgical masks whenever they come within 6 feet of a patient.

The policy took effect at Community Medical Center Monday with the confirmation of a third case of influenza in Montana. A case was confirmed in Lake County last week.

Community spokeswoman Pam Goldberg says employees had to be immunized by Dec. 15 or sign a form declining the shot. By Friday, 92 percent were vaccinated. She says she likes the surgical mask option better than the policy at some hospitals where employees are fired if they decline a flu shot.

Officials at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula say they'll implement their mask policy when influenza is confirmed in Missoula County.

Associated Press