FILED ON: 2/8/2012

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3948

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Twelve

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An Act relative to annual immunization against influenza for children.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 224  the following section:-

Section 225:  (a) The commissioner shall adopt regulations requiring all secondary schools and all providers of early education to distribute to the parent or guardian of a child in its care information regarding the benefits of annual immunization against influenza for children six (6) months of age to eighteen (18) years of age.  This information shall include the causes and symptoms of the disease, how it is spread,  how to obtain additional information regarding the disease and the effectiveness and risks of vaccinations against the disease.

(b) The commissioner shall work with the commissioners of the department of early education and care and the department of elementary and secondary education to ensure that the information is annually distributed to parents in August or September.