Massachusetts influenza vaccine requirement for students eliminated as flu season remains mild during COVID pandemic
Updated Jan 15, 2021;
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The mandate was part of an effort to prevent hospitals from being overcrowded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state Department of Public Health announced over the summer that students would need the flu shot before Dec. 31. Last month, the department said that deadline was extended to Feb. 28. But now, the shot is no longer required to attend school, according to an email from DPH officials.
“The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is removing the requirement for flu vaccination for attendance in childcare/preschool, primary, secondary and postsecondary education. Preliminary data show that this has been a mild flu season to date, presumably as people have received their seasonal flu vaccine and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19,” reads an email from Karen Robitaille, from the