New Fall River program in place to aid with student vaccinations

FALL RIVER, MA – The City of Fall River’s Emergency Medical Services are pleased to announce a new program aimed at ensuring the health, well-being, and consistent school attendance of all Fall River students. Beginning the second week of November, the city will be implementing a vaccination program tailored specifically for students who lack necessary vaccinations required for school attendance.

Fall River Public Schools nurses alerted the Mayor’s Office to a crucial need for vaccination services as there was an increase in the number of students who were unvaccinated and therefore unable to attend school.

The Mayor’s Office responded to the nurses’ concerns by asking Fall River EMS to collaborate with the Massachusetts Vaccine Management Department and the Early Childhood Development Center to expedite implementation of a vaccination program so students would not miss any more school.

This effort can be described as an innovative initiative as Fall River is one of the first municipalities in Massachusetts to implement such a program. The access to essential vaccinations is a priority for the City of Fall River because it ensures Fall River students can attend school, and it also helps to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases.

The Fall River EMS Department will complete a comprehensive training and administer 10-20 vaccines per week at the Early Childhood Development Center at 360 Elsbree Street. Additionally, the Early Childhood Development Center will be able to determine what students are still in need of proper vaccination. The service is available for youth aged between one to sixteen years old. Translation services at the vaccination sites will be provided for students and families by the Fall River Public Schools.

The program is in its final inspection stages with the state and is set to launch the second week of November. More information will be released as the launch date approaches.

For any further questions, please contact the Fall River Emergency Medical Services Department at 508-324-2744.