NEWTON, Mass. — As families get ready to send kids back to class, there’s another item on that back-to-school checklist you may want to revisit: vaccines!
Vaccine requirements for kids are set by the state, but how your local school district handles missing records may be different.
Massachusetts requires students in kindergarten through 12th grade to be vaccinated against several diseases. The exact number of doses depends on a student’s age and grade.
Here’s where it can get a bit confusing for families: while the state sets those requirements, school districts are responsible for checking records and enforcing compliance. So, if you’re missing a vaccine, there could be a hiccup!
“We’re talking about a school setting; it’s so much easier for things to spread whether it’s an infection that spreads through contact or a kid not coughing into the elbow but, like, coughing into a hand or surface,” Dr. Vandana Madhavan.
Last year, amid chickenpox cases and growing concern over measles, a review of Newton’s vaccine records found that over 100 students were not fully compliant with the state’s immunization requirements and nearly 40 students weren’t fully vaccinated against measles. Now students are required to be up to date, or they can’t go to class.
Don’t just assume last year’s paperwork covers this year. If you’re wondering how vaccine requirements are handled in your town, contact your school nurse. For state requirements, check in with your doctor.
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