Graphic by Audrey Kim
Jillie McLeod
Opinions Reporter
Now that vaccinations are rolling out and almost 50 percent of Massachusetts residents have received at least one dose, there is talk about the return to a “new normal” and what that might look like in schools.
Among the topics debated is whether or not proof of vaccination will be necessary to return to a school environment that resembles pre-pandemic times.
Many upperclassmen have already gotten at least one shot through their jobs or other eligibility requirements, and more will likely follow now that everyone over 16 is eligible.
School officials, parents, and students are curious to see what vaccination requirements will be in the coming years. In Massachusetts, certain vaccinations have always been required before children attend public schools. However, there are always exemptions for medical or religious reasons.
In Middlesex County, 99.6 percent of kindergarteners are believed to be vaccinated with the required immunizations. Previous data suggests that if the government were to require the COVID-19 vaccination, the overwhelming majority of the Newton population would be vaccinated.
From a public health standpoint, requiring the vaccine is a good idea. It would mean that most of the student population would receive the vaccine, and there would be herd immunity within the community.
In reality, a vaccine requirement is unlikely to happen. As of now, there is no type of vaccine that is approved for children under the age of 16. If freshmen and most sophomores were to attend “normal” school, they would not have the same protections as upperclassmen. The vaccine is also likely to need booster doses, which could cause challenges for the government to keep track of vaccinations.
For the vaccine to be required to attend school, it would have to be available to the younger population. In addition, medical professionals would need to have more information on the vaccine’s long-lasting effectiveness and when follow-up shots are needed.
