MDPH is opening COVID-19 vaccine ordering through the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS) to health care providers that meet specific requirements, and is issuing new inventory requirements for primary care providers and community health centers (CHCs). The update reviews important changes to Pfizer vaccine storage, announces 450 dose packaging, and provides guidance for viewing patient vaccination records reported to the MIIS, along with other useful MIIS reports to identify patient immunization status. Click here to access the update.

The update details key messages and resources for recommending COVID-19 vaccine to patients age 12 and older. Click here to access the update.

Weekly Bulletin: What Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Providers Need to Know (Week of 5/27/21) Click here to access the bulletin.

With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, summer will be here soon and the school year will be coming to an end. Before they head off to college or work, check that your patients graduating from high school are up to date on recommended vaccines.

State-supplied vaccine is available through 18 years of age. Click here to access the MDPH's Childhood Vaccine Availability Table.

Massachusetts School Immunization Requirements for 2021-2022 include immunization recommendations for all full-time undergraduate and graduate students and all full-time and part-time health science students at Massachusetts colleges (post-secondary institutions).

College-bound students also may be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine to enroll. On April 29, the American College Health Association (ACHA) issued a press release announcing that “where state law and available resources allow, ACHA recommends COVID-19 vaccination requirements for all on-campus college and university students for fall semester 2021, in accordance with the IHE's [Institutes of Higher Education] normal exemption practices, including exemptions for medical contraindications. This recommendation applies to all students who live on campus and/or participate in on-campus classes, studies, research, or activities.” A current list of Massachusetts colleges that will require the COVID-19 vaccine for the fall 2021 semester can be found here.

In April, Connecticut passed legislation eliminating all non-medical vaccine exemptions for schools and daycares, beginning with the 2022 school year. Connecticut joins five other states that only allow medical exemptions to school entry requirements: California, Maine, Mississippi, New York, and West Virginia. Click here to read more.

Legislation has been introduced in Massachusetts to remove non-medical vaccine exemptions for school entry. H.2411, An Act Relative to Vaccines and Preventing Future Disease Outbreaks, would eliminate the religious exemption to vaccination for school entry. The Immunize MA Coalition, working with the bill's sponsor, Representative Andy Vargas, is spearheading this effort. Updated information about the bill's progress will be posted as it becomes available. If you are interested in joining this effort, please contact Cynthia McReynolds, Program Manager, MCAAP Immunization Initiative (cmcreynolds@mcaap.org).

MDPH Updates and Bulletins