Staying Connected
November 29, 2020
Below, you will also find the full calendar for December.
December School Calendar
Navigating TEAMS Using an IPAD
Influenza Vaccine Requirement for School Attendance: Preschool and Kindergarten through Grade 12
Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has added a new influenza vaccine requirement for all children 6 months and older who are attending Massachusetts childcare, Preschool, students in all grades of school from Kindergarten through Grade 12, and students at colleges and universities. All students in Preschool and K-12 must receive the seasonal influenza vaccine annually by December 31. New students entering between January 1 and March 31 must have received a dose of vaccine for the current flu season before entry.
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. This requirement was put in place 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 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students will be expected to have received a flu vaccine for the current influenza season by December 31, 2020, unless either a written medical or religious exemption letter is provided to the school nurse. The full Massachusetts DPH announcement, along with a link to other State mandated vaccinations can be found at: https://www.mass.gov/news/flu-vaccine-now-required-for-all-massachusetts-school-students-enrolled-in-child-care-pre
Frequently Asked Questions (download): https://www.mass.gov/doc/faq-influenza-vaccine-requirement-for-school-attendance/download
The Flu: A Guide for Parents: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/12/nc/the-flu-guide-for-parents.pdf La Gripe: Guia Para Padres: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/12/vi/the-flu-guide-for-parents-spanish.pdf
Please contact the Woodland School Nurses, Deb Carellas and Jessica Harris, if you have any questions regarding this requirement, 413-569-6598.