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Massachusetts health officials and clinicians are responding to the rise in vaccine hesitancy, especially during a time when federal vaccine guidance and public health authority is greatly challenged. Although the Commonwealth continues to report high vaccination coverage overall, pediatricians and policymakers warn that recent trends, primarily among children and in certain regions, could erode long-standing protections against vaccine-preventable diseases1,3.
Pediatricians across Massachusetts report that they have recently had to spend more time addressing parental concerns about routine childhood vaccines. They notice that the parents’ fear and skepticism come from misinformation and distrust following the COVID-19 pandemic1. Even after extended counseling, clinicians observed an increase in families delaying or declining vaccines completely, including vaccines necessary for newborns1. Patterns in state-level data suggest that these individual decisions are causing impact at the population level. Vaccine exemptions among kindergarteners have risen steadily since 2021, with religious exemptions reaching their highest level since Massachusetts began tracking them decades ago3.
Even though statewide vaccination rates for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) remain high enough to reduce the risk of large outbreaks, public health officials caution that statewide averages can mask meaningful geographic differences4. There is a rise in concern that localized gaps, such as western Massachusetts reporting several counties with notably lower coverage among school-aged children, could allow outbreaks to occur even if statewide rates remain high4. Health officials emphasize that diseases, such as measles, require consistently high coverage across communities to prevent ongoing transmission1.
In response to these trends, Massachusetts has taken crucial steps to stabilize vaccine access amid potential changes to federal recommendations. In late 2025, Governor Maura Healey announced that, regardless of federal guidance, insurers in the Commonwealth would be required to cover vaccines recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health5,6. State officials framed this move as a way to prevent cost-related barriers and confusion for routine childhood immunizations, regardless of changes to federal vaccine recommendations6.
Pharmacies are important vaccination sites for people, which is why the Healey administration also acted to preserve access to them. To maintain access, Massachusetts issued a standing order allowing pharmacies to continue administering COVID-19 vaccines to residents aged 5 and older. State policy was also updated to give the state health commissioner broader authority over pharmacist-provided vaccines6. These measures followed concerns that changing federal guidance could affect vaccine access and public trust2,5.
Massachusetts’s current approach builds on earlier equity-focused efforts that were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Vaccine Equity Initiative, the state partnered with community organizations to reduce barriers to vaccines and increase trust among those who were disproportionately impacted by COVID-197. Public health officials highlighted community outreach, trusted messengers, and easier access as ways to address vaccine hesitancy beyond the pandemic7.
Overall, these policy and practice developments reflect Massachusetts’s attempt at managing vaccine hesitancy. By reinforcing access, maintaining insurance coverage, and supporting provider-patient communication, the Commonwealth aims to ensure that access barriers do not further weaken public confidence in vaccines. As national debates over vaccination policy will indeed continue, the efforts set forth by the state of Massachusetts highlight how challenging it has become for states to sustain routine immunization among the public.
Sources:
1. https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/10/27/doctors-kids-vaccines-skeptics-boston-massachu setts
2. https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/mass-moves-protect-childhood-vaccines-ahe ad-federal-review/ADNUH27OWNAK3HKN7VWTOKY3O4/
3. https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2025-10-13/3-northeast-states-banned-religious-ex emptions-for-vaccines-what-about-massachusetts
4. https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2025-09-01/calling-the-shots-as-vaccine-rates-decline mass-looks-beyond-feds-to-improve-uptake
5. https://apnews.com/article/massachusetts-vaccinations-robert-kennedy-604c6456827b9 3322b8811a0e3ebf485
6. https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-announces-immediate-steps-to-ensure-vac cine-availability-in-massachusetts-amid-trump-rfk-rollbacks
7. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccine-equity-initiative
