States Considering Mandatory Flu Shots For Students [POLL]
NEW YORK — With the start of school — whether online, hybrid or in-person instruction — children are still required to be vaccinated. According to the state Education Department website, within 14 days of the first day of school or day care, children must receive the first age-appropriate doses in each of the immunization series to attend or remain in school or day care.
Within 30 days, parents or guardians must provide proof that appointments have been set up for the next required follow-up doses.
While education officials say parents should talk to their health care provider about what vaccines their child needs, there is a list of required vaccines, which includes vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella, polio and chickenpox.
As we approach flu season, which health officials said could complicate the ongoing coronavirus pandemic — is it flu, is it the new coronavirus or is it both? — neighboring Connecticut is considering whether to follow Massachusetts in requiring that students returning to school receive the influenza vaccine.
Massachusetts now requires students from kindergarten through university to receive the flu vaccine by year's end if they are around others, NBC Boston reported. Even kids at least 6 months old in day care must be vaccinated.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said his administration is looking into requiring flu vaccinations for all students.
Connecticut already make preschoolers get the flu vaccine, but K-12 students aren't required. Students still have to get other childhood vaccinations, and there are religious or medical exemptions allowing parents to opt out.
New York no longer allows nonmedical exemptions for getting vaccines. That went into effect in early 2019 because of the largest measles outbreak in the state since 1991.
Health officials said one of the benefits of getting the flu vaccine is it could help doctors differentiate between COVID-19 and influenza symptoms that are similar: fever, cough and sore throat.
Also, since there are no approved therapeutics or vaccines for the coronavirus, health officials said getting a flu shot will give people a sense of being able to control something.
So now it's your turn to weigh in on the issue. Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us what you think in the comments.
This article originally appeared on the Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollow Patch
