New York State is mandating that hospital, nursing home and home care agency workers who refuse to get the flu shot this season wear a mask to help prevent the spread of the disease, according to The Post-Standard. Central New York hospitals who tried the measure last flu season saw an increase in the number of workers getting the shot, with St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center in Syracuse seeing a jump from 59.5 percent to 89 percent. Unvaccinated workers will don masks whenever the state health department determines the flu is widespread--anytime between October and May. The state rule says unvaccinated workers must wear masks in hallways, elevators and anywhere else where patients might be present, even cafeterias. Unvaccinated workers are allowed to take the masks off while eating. The mask rule is just the latest step by the state to increase vaccination rates among health workers. Article