As children return to classrooms across Massachusetts, health experts warn families to prioritise routine vaccines amid a surge in US measles cases and ongoing COVID-19 concerns.
As children and college students return to classrooms across Massachusetts, infectious disease experts are urging families not to focus only on COVID-19. Dr Kristen Moffitt, an infectious disease specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital, said the state is seeing only a small uptick in coronavirus cases and that the situation is very different from the early pandemic years. “A surge now does not mean what it meant four to five years ago,” Moffitt told WCVB, adding that confirmed cases remain in the hundreds each week rather than the thousands.
That does not mean parents should be complacent. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, measles cases in the United States reached a 35-year high by early June 2026, underscoring how quickly a vaccine-preventable illness can spread when coverage slips. Massachusetts public health officials also confirmed two measles cases in February, the first in the state since 2024, although they said there was no evidence of widespread transmission within the Commonwealth.
Moffitt said measles remains a particular concern because it is both highly contagious and preventable through routine vaccination. Massachusetts continues to have relatively strong immunisation coverage, but the expert warned that falling rates in other parts of the country can create openings for outbreaks. “It’s such an unbelievably serious infection for children,” she said. “And we know it’s vaccine-preventable.”
Her advice to families was practical: check with a paediatrician, make sure children are up to date on routine shots and pay attention to seasonal vaccines such as the flu jab. She also said Massachusetts still follows American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, despite mixed national messaging on vaccines. For college students, families should confirm immunisation records are complete and ask about meningitis vaccination if a school does not require it, since serious meningococcal infections can appear in clusters among students.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
