The physicians of the Massachusetts Medical Association endorse Rich Barlow’s September 17 op-ed, “Massachusetts Should Eliminate Religious Exemptions to Vaccines.” Barlow advocates for the elimination of non-medical exemptions to the state’s school vaccination mandate. In line with organizational policy, the Medical Association has long called for the elimination of non-medical vaccine exemptions. We strongly support the proposed legislation by Representative Andy Vargas and Senator Edward J. Kennedy to eliminate religious exemptions in Massachusetts, and will continue to advocate for legislation and regulations that would eliminate non-medical vaccine exemptions to the extent legally permissible in all circumstances in which vaccinations are required in Massachusetts.
Safe and effective vaccines are the best medical tool to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, protecting both the health of individuals and the well-being of communities. Vaccines are essential to keep in-school learning uninterrupted and to prevent severe illness and death in medically vulnerable people.
While vaccination rates in Massachusetts remain high statewide, many schools have vaccination rates that have fallen below the herd immunity threshold, putting students and vulnerable community members at unnecessarily high risk of contracting preventable diseases.
We recognize that dangerous misinformation about vaccine safety and effectiveness may lead to vaccine hesitancy, and we encourage all parents and guardians with concerns to raise those concerns with their child’s healthcare provider.
Every child has the right to attend school safely and protected from diseases that can be prevented through routine vaccination.
Dr. Hugh Taylor
president
Massachusetts Medical Association
Boston
