Employee flu vaccinations at Bluewater Health have decreased significantly since the withdrawal of the hospital's "vaccinate or mask" policy in October.
Board members expressed concerns at their meeting Wednesday that only 53 per cent of physicians and employees so far have gotten their flu shot.
Chief Nursing Executive Barb O'Neil says those numbers are down from 81 per cent for employees and 77 per cent for physicians last year.
She says the hospital is currently in the process of rewording its flu shot policy.
"ONA (Ontario Nurses Association) has suggested that we need to look at the wording of that and make that notion of them wearing a mask their choice, rather than it being mandated," says O'Neil.
Board members were told the hospital is awaiting results from a second arbitration to reverse the decision, however it's not expected for this influenza season.