Associate Prof Nick Wilson, of the Wellington campus, was commenting on consultation by the Waikato District Health Board
on whether it was a reasonable request. Prof Wilson said it seemed a ''reasonable compromise'' with staff who resisted vaccination, and might avoid the need to introduce compulsory vaccination.
''The key ethical thing is for responsible health workers not to infect patients, so it's quite reasonable for health workers to put up with a bit of discomfort like wearing a mask.''
The measure would not be difficult to explain to patients, who could be told it reduced risk of infection.
''Anything that reduces transmission from health worker to patients is a good thing.
''You don't want to go to hospital and come back with something new.''
The Southern District Health Board did not directly answer a question of whether it would consider a similar move.
In a statement the board said unvaccinated staff would be reminded of infection control procedures when treating immune-compromised patients.
New Zealand Nurses' Organisation industrial adviser Lesley Harry said a blanket requirement for the unvaccinated to wear masks around patients would be unreasonable.
Ms Harry said it was reasonable to ask unvaccinated staff to wear masks with vulnerable or immune compromised patients.
She emphasised the union's support for the vaccine.
''What our members are saying to us is that they believe that the wearing of masks over the course of a work day is going to be impractical.
''One of the reasons they are saying that is because the masks themselves have a short-term lifespan, so they'll be changing masks in the course of the day.
''We think a heavy-handed approach will be counter-productive to what needs to be a positive experience for their workforce.''
Ms Harry said if the mandatory requirement was introduced in one health board, it was likely to be tried in other boards.
''The law's really grey around these issues.''
The Waikato board expects to decide soon whether to go ahead with the move.
