Massachusetts ending flu vaccine mandate for students to attend school

The flu vaccine mandate is being discontinued for Massachusetts students.

According to a letter sent to school officials Friday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is removing the requirement for flu vaccination for attendance in childcare/preschool, primary, secondary, and postsecondary education.

The letter, issued by Director of School Health Services, Karen Robitaille, states that 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.

“Given the intensive Commonwealth-wide efforts regarding COVID-19 vaccination, DPH wants to alleviate the burden to obtain flu vaccination and focus on continuing our COVID-19 vaccination efforts.”

This fall, FLU YOU BAKER, a group led by Vincent Delaney, filed a class-action lawsuit against Governor Charlie Baker, and the State of Massachusetts, over the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s requirements for school flu vaccinations which also led to multiple protests.

DPH continues to strongly recommend that everyone age six months and older receive their seasonal flu vaccine each year.