January 7, 2021

Dear Middleborough Families,

We would like to share this update to this school year's new Massachusetts State requirement for flu shot vaccines for all students grades Pre-K to grade 12. This update includes a new deadline of February 28, 2021, which represents a change from the previous deadline (12/31/2020).

The original guidance from the State is included in the Middleborough Public schools return to School Plan 2020-21. This document includes the following;

“It is the policy of the Middleborough Public Schools to adhere to Massachusetts General Law (M.G.L.) 105 CMR 220.000 and Massachusetts Department of Public Health Immunization Requirements for school entry. Massachusetts state law requires all students to be fully immunized before attending school”.

The only exceptions to this law (M.G.L. Part I, Title XII  Chapter 76 , Section 15) would require a physician verified medical documentation of exemption due to medical reasons OR a statement in writing by a parent/guardian that declares that vaccination or immunization conflicts with the parent/guardian’s sincere religious beliefs.

Please note that within this correspondence, I have included a question and answer information sheet form the State on the subject of the newly updated School Flu Requirement, including  the new deadline of February 28, 2021. This includes information regarding the importance of receiving the influenza vaccine to reduce the risk of getting sick with influenza, reduce the severity of disease if one does get sick (including the risk of hospitalization) due to influenza, as well as to prevent the spread of influenza to others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the influenza vaccine will be especially critical to reduce the overall impact of respiratory illness on the population, protect vulnerable populations from severe illness, and decrease the overall burden on the healthcare system. 

Once again, it is important that you please provide documented proof of a flu vaccination for each child to your School/ School Nurse prior to the new deadline of February 28. 2021.

Please note that a medical exemption form a medical provider/pediatrician or a parental/guardian written statement detailing religious exemptions are allowable in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Paula E. Magnasco, BA, MSN, RN

Coordinator of Nursing

Middleborough Public Schools

E-mail: pmagnasco@middleboro.k12.ma.us

Phone: 508 946 2000 X 4307

  

Influenza Vaccine Requirementfor School 

Attendance: Kindergarten through Grade 12 

Updated December 22, 2020 

Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, influenza vaccine will be required for all  students. Influenza vaccine is always important to receive to reduce the risk of getting sick  with influenza, reduce the severity of disease if one does get sick (including the risk of  hospitalization) due to influenza, as well as preventing the spread of influenza to others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza vaccine will be especially critical to reduce the  overall impact of respiratory illness on the population, protect vulnerable populations from  severe illness, and decrease the overall burden on the healthcare system. 

Which students need to receive the influenza vaccine? 

Students in Kindergarten – Grade 12 will be required to receive influenza vaccine for the  current influenza season for school attendance unless they have a medical or religious  exemption. 

When do students need to receive the influenza vaccine? 

Students must receive influenza vaccine for the current season (i.e., school year 2020-2021) by  February 28, 2021. New students entering school before March 31, 2021 must have received a  dose of vaccine for the current flu season for entry. 

Are there any exemptions to receiving influenza vaccine? 

Medical and religious exemptions are allowable in the state of Massachusetts. Exemptions must be renewed annually Medical exemptions must include a statement from a physician stating that the  vaccine is medically contraindicated for the student.  Parents/Guardians can send a signed or hand written note of their wishes to be exempt from the flu shot vaccine for their sincerely held religious beliefs.

What type of influenza vaccine can students receive? 

Any age-appropriate licensed influenza vaccine for the current season fulfills the  requirement. This includes injectable and nasal spray vaccine types. 

Should students without a documented dose of seasonal influenza vaccine be excluded  from school on January 1st? 

Enforcement of school immunization requirements is determined at the local level. We  encourage school communities to work with families and healthcare providers to satisfy the  requirements for students who are not compliant on January 1st. For the 2020-2021 school  year only, influenza vaccine must be received by February 28, 2021. Post-secondary  institutions are encouraged to work with families and healthcare providers to satisfy the  vaccination requirements for students who are not compliant by March 1, 2021. 

What about students who enroll after December 31? 

Students who enroll before March 31 must have a documented dose of influenza vaccine  for the current influenza season (along with all other required vaccinations) when they start  school. 

What about students who enroll later in the spring? 

Students enrolling after March 31 are not required to have a dose of influenza vaccine for  the current school year. 

Will my school have to report on influenza vaccine in the Kindergarten and Grade 7  school immunization surveys? 

Yes—the surveys will be open as usual during the fall to input information on other  vaccines. By January 2021, a new section of the survey may be completed to report  influenza vaccination rates for students enrolled in Kindergarten and Grade 7. We  anticipate both parts of the survey, the traditional school immunization survey and the  influenza component, will be due by the end of January 2021. 

Will my school have to report the number of students who received influenza vaccine in  the Grade 11 school immunization survey? 

Yes—the Grade 11 survey will open in early 2021 and will include the influenza question  with the survey. More information on the timeline for the Grade 11 survey will be  available in the future. 

Will my school have to report the number of students who received influenza vaccine for  students in all grades? 

While the influenza vaccine requirement exists for every grade, you will be asked to  complete school immunization surveys for Kindergarten, Grade 7, and Grade 11. 

Will influenza vaccine be required every year or just for the 2020-2021 school year? 

Influenza vaccine is now a required vaccine for school attendance and will be required as of  December 31 for all students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 each school year. For the school year 2020-2021 only, seasonal influenza vaccine must be received by February 28,  2021. 

Do younger students require 2 doses according to ACIP guidelines? 

Children younger than 9 may need two doses of influenza vaccine depending on the number of  influenza vaccines they have received in the past. Children should be vaccinated according to  ACIP recommendations but only one dose of influenza vaccine is required for school attendance. 

If my school will be providing instruction remotely, will students still need to meet immunization  requirements? 

The school immunization requirements, including the requirement for seasonal influenza vaccine,  apply to all Massachusetts students enrolled in Kindergarten through Grade 12, regardless of  whether the district is providing instruction in-person, or using a hybrid or remote learning model. 

Do the flu immunization requirements apply to students that are home schooled? 

Immunization requirements, including the flu immunization requirement, do not apply to home  schooled students unless the student will ever need to access the school building for sports, after  school activities or any other reason.