Per Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Influenza vaccine (Flu shot) will be required by December 31st, 2020 for all children older than 6 months who are enrolled in:
- Child Care
- Pre-School
- K-12
- Colleges and Universities
There are exemptions to this requirement for very specific medical reasons or for religious reasons.
If you do not want or cannot have your child immunized to flu for religious reasons, please contact your school directly. A note from our office is not needed nor provided.
If your child has had a life-threatening allergic reaction (other than hives) to the flu vaccine or any of its components, you should speak with your child’s allergist to determine the best course of action. They may recommend an egg-free vaccine, a monitored vaccine administration in their office or provide you with a medical exemption form.
Please note that patients who have a history of only hives to eggs or to the flu vaccine, can receive the flu vaccine in our office, as they have for the past several years.
Patients who have had Guillain-Barre (GBS; serious paralyzing illness), should be encouraged to have the flu vaccine since the incidence of GBS is higher after a case of influenza than after the influenza vaccine. Any questions should be referred to your child’s PC
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