New to Massachusetts InfluenzaVaccine Requirement for School Attendance:
Kindergarten through Grade 12
Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, influenza vaccine (ALL Student) and meningococcal conjugate vaccine will be required.
We want to make you aware that at the start of the 2020-2021 school year, school nurses will need to obtain an immunization record for the meningococcal conjugate vaccine for students entering the 7th and 11th grade, unless a religious or medical exemption applies. The immunization record will need to demonstrate the following: 7th grade entry: 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) for all students. 11th grade entry: 1 booster dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men ACWY) received on or after 16 years of age. (One or more doses of MenACWY vaccine are acceptable as long as one dose was received on or after 16 years of age.)
Influenza vaccine is always important to receive to reduce the risk of getting sick with influenza, reduce the severity of disease if one does get sick (including the risk of hospitalization) due to influenza, as well as preventing the spread of influenza to others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza vaccine will be especially critical to reduce the overall impact of respiratory illness on the population, protect vulnerable populations from severe illness, and decrease the overall burden on the healthcare system.
Which students need to receive the influenza vaccine?
Students in Kindergarten – Grade 12 will be required to receive influenza vaccine for the current influenza season for school attendance unless they have a medical or religious exemption.
When do students need to receive the influenza vaccine?
Students must receive influenza vaccine for the current season by December 31, 2020.
Are there any exemptions to receiving influenza vaccine?
Medical and religious exemptions are allowable in the state of Massachusetts. Please see www.mass.gov for further guidance on exemptions.
What type of influenza vaccine can students receive?
Any age-appropriate licensed influenza vaccine for the current season fulfills the requirement. This includes injectable and nasal spray vaccine types.
If my school will be providing instruction remotely, will students still need to meet immunization requirements?
The school immunization requirements, including the requirement for seasonal influenza vaccine, apply to all Massachusetts students enrolled in Kindergarten through Grade 12, regardless of whether the district is providing instruction in-person, or using a hybrid or remote learning model.
Do the flu immunization requirements apply to students that are homeschooled? Immunization requirements, including the flu immunization requirement, do not apply to home schooled students unless the student will ever need to access the school building for sports, after school activities or any other reason.
All religious exemptions must be renewed every school year per Massachusetts guidelines.
Please note new regulation beginning in August of 2018: The State of Massachusetts please note that effective with the 2018-19 school year any child that has a Religious Exemption must renew their status annually. An annual renewal means that parents/guardians must write and sign a new religious exemption. All religious exemptions should be dated by the signing parent/guardian to allow for monitoring of annual renewals each school year. Annual renewal of exemptions should occur at the start of each school year. has notified us of a change with the Policy for Religious Exemptions regarding a child immunization status. If you have this Religious Exemption on your child’s health record.
MEDICATIONS NEEDED DURING SCHOOL HOURS
If it is necessary for your child to receive ANY prescription, over-the-counter medication, and/or medical treatments during the school day require a written order with the following specific directions the name of the medication, dosage, time, and frequency to be taken from your child’s healthcare provider. This as well as the labeled medication is to be brought to the school nurse with signed permission by the parent or guardian. A student may not carry medication or self-administer medication without proper authorization from their healthcare provider and the school nurse.
A parent or designated adult must deliver the medication to school in the original box or bottle with the current label on the container. Unused medication must be taken home by the parent or an adult at the end of each school year or upon transferring out of the district. ANY MEDICATION THAT IS NOT PICKED UP AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE DISCARDED.
The permission form as well as the physician medication order form is on the nurse web page under the tab “forms”. Some physicians prefer to use their own forms, that is fine as well. The physician's office may also fax these forms to the nurse’s private fax line; the number is 508-252-5005.
All MEDICATION ORDERS must be renewed every school year to school year. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the number below.
STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL AFTER NON-ROUTINE MEDICAL TREATMENT, of any kind, (including but not limited to an emergency room visit, mental health assessment, or hospitalization) must provide medical documentation of the students condition, clearance for reentry to school, and any limitations. Students must also return a release to return to the vocational setting.
WELL CHILD PHYSICAL
(1) within one year prior to entrance to school or within 30 days after school entry and at intervals thereafter. A student transferred from another school system shall be examined as an entering student. Health records transferred from the student's previous school may be used to determine compliance with this requirement
(2) one to two year intervals here at the high school
(3) prior to a student's participation in competitive athletics, a student participating in interscholastic athletics must submit a current physical examination. According to Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Guidelines to qualify for each sport season, the physical must be dated within thirteen months of the first day of practice.
Dawn M.Dailey-Begin MSN, RN
DRRHS School Nurse
ddailey@drregional.org
Fax 508-252-5005
Office 508-252-5025 X5500
Please understand we are constantly updating this site and will add resources over time.