The Massachusetts Medical Society supports Gov. Baker and his administration in requiring children to receive influenza vaccination to attend schools in the Commonwealth as a prudent and proactive measure.
The Massachusetts Medical Society urges people of all ages to receive an influenza vaccination to protect themselves, their family members and their community from the flu.
Influenza results in thousands of hospitalizations in Massachusetts each year and causes illness and death in people of all ages. As influenza season approaches, our state will face the dual threat of seasonal flu and a likely resurgence of COVID-19 cases.
Flu vaccination is a safe and important step toward ensuring that our health care system and health care resources are not overwhelmed by an overlap of transmissible illnesses that can have lethal outcomes.
We strongly urge all patients to contact their physician to schedule an influenza shot this fall. Data prove that a flu shot is safe for children and adults and prevents or reduces substantially the symptoms of influenza and the risk of severe illness,
hospitalization and death.
-David A. Rosman, MD, MBA, President, Massachusetts Medical Society
