The Department of Public Health of the state of Massachusetts will required seasonal influenza vaccination for all children six-months and older to attend childcare, pre-school, K-12 and for colleges and universities.  Exemptions will only be available for medical and religious reasons.  It is anticipated that the addition of a seasonal influenza vaccine to the vaccination schedule required by Massachusetts will be permanent and will extend beyond the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Predictably the directive elicited protests including vaccine opponents and some parents concerned about the state abrogating their right to choose whether their children will or will not be vaccinated.

This action by the commonwealth of Massachusetts is a further reminder that egg producers should arrange to have farm and packing-plant personnel vaccinated with the now-available seasonal influenza vaccine.  Those over 65 years in age or with predisposing conditions should receive the high-titer influenza vaccine.  Preemptive vaccination will be essential to health as we pass through fall and into winter, given the prevalence of COVID-19.