More health-care workers got the flu vaccine this past season than ever before after controversial rules were aggressively enforced, prompting the firing of one worker who refused to comply.

Health Minister Terry Lake confirmed Wednesday the worker was terminated in December after declining to get a shot or wear a mask in patient-care areas.

Arnold Hoekstra, who worked as a nurses aide at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Grand Forks, said he was let go after various disciplinary meetings with officials with the Interior Health Authority.

Mr. Hoekstra, 49, said he doesnt believe vaccines are medically viable.

I refused anything to do with that policy because it wasnt based on the truth, he said an interview.

Were introducing very harmful products, chemicals and neurotoxins and what have you, into our bodies which actually make us sicker and develop various diseases because of it.

Mr. Lake said 80 per cent of health-care workers in B.C. were vaccinated, a 10-per-cent increase from the previous flu season. The remaining health-care workers chose to wear masks.

Some people have concerns about vaccines, Mr. Lake said, when asked why some health-care workers are not getting vaccinations.

Our primary concern is the patient. So by being immunized youre protecting the patient, but also by wearing a mask we feel that that is efficacious in protecting the patient as well, Mr. Lake said.

He said the goal next year is to further increase the rate of vaccination among health-care workers beyond the 80 per cent.

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Health-care worker fired after refusing flu shot, mask