Massachusetts No Longer Requiring Student Flu Shots

Massachusetts is suspending its requirement that students get the flu vaccine, citing a mild flu season and the focus on vaccinating against the coronavirus. The move spares parents whose children have yet to get the flu shot needing to worry about getting two vaccines this year — though health officials are still urging everyone to get the flu shot.

The Department of Public Health said in a statement Friday it is removing the requirement, which mandated children from 6 months be vaccinated against the flu if they were to attend anything from child care programs and preschools through college.

Some school districts still require flu shots for certain activities. Salem Public Schools, for instance, mandates the shot to play sports.

"Preliminary data show that this has been a mild flu season to date, presumably as people have received their season flu vaccine and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19," the DPH said. "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."

The state announced the requirement in August, saying preventing the flu would save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state without explanation last month pushed the deadline back from Dec. 31 to Feb. 28.