Vermont Considers Mandating Flu Shots For Students

MONTPELIER, Vermont (AP) — Public health officials in Vermont said the state is considering becoming the second state to mandate flu shots as a way to ease the burden of influenza amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine said Friday the rate of flu in the state needs to be as low as possible to avoid a situation he called a "twindemic." He said last year less than 43% of children age 5 to 12 received the flu vaccine.

"Our primary focus will be to increase the rate of vaccination, especially among children and teens," Levine said. "We can and must do better."

Levine said a decision has not been reached about whether to require universal flu vaccines for all students. Massachusetts authorities recently made a move to require flu shots for school. Officials in the state also cited the need to avoid overburdening the health system with both diseases.

Levine said the decision about whether to require flu shots will be "driven, as always, by data and science."