CIARA:
THERE IS A NEW MANDATE FOR ALL
MASSACHUSETTS STUDENTS.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH IS REQUIRING A FLU SHOT
IN ORDER TO ATTEND AN
INSTITUTION.. SAYING IT'S AN
IMPORTANT STEP IN
REDUCING ILLNESS DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
22NEWS REPORTER SYDNEY SNOW IS
LIVE IN SPRINGFIELD TONIGHT.
SYDNEY - YOU FOUND OUT HOW
PARENTS FEEL ABOUT THIS NEW
REQUIREMENT.
SYDNEY:
THIS NEW MANDATE HAS ALREADY
PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY
CONTROVERSIAL.
BUT WE KNOW THAT UNDER IT
CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 6 MONTHS
OLD TO GRADUATE
STUDENTS 30 YEARS OLD WILL HAVE
TO GET A FLU SHOT THIS YEAR.
JOHN GOSSELIN - PARENT OF 14
YEAR OLD
THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A LOT OF
CHAOS IN
COMMUNITIES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS HELD
CLOSELY TO
EVERYBODY IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL
DECISION.
MANY PARENTS ARE AGAINST THE NEW
MANDATE - OTHERS ARE IN FAVOR OF
IT -
BUT REGARDLESS YOUR CHILD MUST
GET THE FLU VACCINE BY DECEMBER
31ST OF
THIS YEAR IN ORDER TO RETURN TO
SCHOOL JANUARY 1ST.
THIS MANDATE INCLUDES ELEMENTARY
AND SECONDARY
STUDENTS WHO ARE USING A REMOTE
EDUCATION MODEL - THEY WILL NOT
BE
EXEMPT.
COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ATTEND ANY
CLASSES OR ACTIVITIES ON
CAMPUS, EVEN ONCE, MUST BE
VACCINATED AS WELL.
22NEWS SPOKE TO A LOCAL
PEDIATRICIAN WHO SAID DOCTORS
ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS
MANDATE BECAUSE IT HELPS THEM
FIGHT FLU SEASON AMID THE
PANDEMIC.
DR. JOHN O'REILLY - BAYSTATE
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A
FLU SHOT
MANDATE WE ARE LESS WORRIED
ABOUT FLU TESTING AND WE CAN
CONCENTRATE REALLY ON
LOOKING AT COVID-19 AND
AGAINST PROTECTING OUR KIDS.
HOWEVER THERE ARE SOME
EXCEPTIONS TO THIS NEW MANDATE
LIKE A MEDICAL OR
RELIGIOUS REASON.
SYDNEY:
THE CDC ALSO RECOMMENDS GETTING
YOUR FLU SHOT IN OCTOBER TO
ALLOW YOUR BODY TO BUILD TO BE
ANTIBODIES AGAINST THE VIRUS.
WORKING FOR YOU LIVE IN WEST
SPRINGFIELD SYDNEY SNOW 22NEWS
