By Jordan DelFiugo, Belmont Voice correspondent
When 95 out of 100 kindergarteners are vaccinated for measles, something almost magical happens: the entire group is protected from an outbreak. Experts call this phenomenon herd immunity.
Last year, kindergarteners in seven Massachusetts counties fell below that mark, according to Massachusetts school immunization data, leaving health officials to wonder whether public skepticism about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines is growing.
But in Belmont, kids are getting their shots. Last year, 97 of 100kindergartners at the town’s four public elementary schools had both measles vaccines.
Vaccination rates are also high in Middlesex County. According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 1.4% of kindergarteners in the county failed to meet state vaccine requirements in the 2025–2026 school year, compared with 3.2% statewide.
Julie Lemay, a Belmont parent and member of the town’s Board of Health, suggested it could stem from a communal sense of responsibility.
“I would love to say it’s because of the giving nature here in Belmont,” she joked. “But really, I think there’s a general awareness here that vaccines can impact the rest of the community and the importance of protecting the people who can’t get them.”
Lemay said public health efforts, such as the district’s partnership with the Vaccines for Children program, may contribute to adherence rates.
The Belmont Health Department offers school-required vaccines to students missing immunizations, and people younger than 18 who are uninsured or underinsured.
“As a parent, it makes me really happy,” Lemay said. “For families who might have difficulty establishing a pediatrician when they come to town, they can get the vaccines they need to join our school community on time with their peers.”
Health Department Director Wesley Chin said the program has proved to be a popular and convenient way for families to get their children caught up on required vaccinations.
“Our philosophy is, if you make it easy for someone to get a vaccine, they’re more likely to do it,” he said. “We work hard to minimize barriers such as cost, scheduling, and access to reliable information.”
Chin, like Lemay, believes Belmont residents generally support mandatory vaccines.
“We are fortunate to work in a community where there is a strong understanding and appreciation of the benefits of vaccines,” he said.
Enforcement may contribute too. Belmont Public Schools Superintendent Jill Geiser said the state sets the list of mandatory school vaccines, and local officials enforce and track compliance with the requirements.
“Belmont prioritizes both high vaccination coverage and school attendance,” Geiser said in a
statement.
Even though the district’s vaccine rates are consistently high, one immunization policy has proven controversial.
In 2021, Belmont Public Schools began requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for students participating in sports and extracurricular activities.
The state does not require COVID-19 and flu vaccines for enrollment in public schools. The Boston Public Health Commission strongly recommends both vaccines, but has ultimately left the decision to the districts.
When the district attempted to require a shot not mandated by the state in 2022, a group called the Children’s Health Rights of Massachusetts filed a lawsuit. The nonprofit argued the requirement infringed on parents’ rights to make decisions for their children. The court dismissed the case, ruling that the group lacked the necessary legal standing to sue.
Sossy Yogurtian, a pharmacy manager at Union Pharmacy, which runs the town’s monthly COVID-19 and flu clinic with the health department, said fewer people have been getting the COVID-19 shot recently.
“I think, because COVID is not something people are seeing as much anymore, they are okay with not having it. I hear a lot of ‘it’s not as bad as it used to be,’” Yogurtian said.
Chin said he’s observed a “noticeable difference” at the clinics.
“Nowadays, 40 to 50 people might stop by, but in the past, it’s been closer to 150 or 175,” he said.
Chin said the decline could stem from conflicting guidance.
“I think there’s some confusion in terms of mixed information that has come out at the federal level about whether or not vaccines are required or recommended,” he said.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration changed the federal childhood vaccine schedule, moving some vaccines from recommendations for all children to categories for certain high-risk groups or decisions made by parents and doctors.
In August, President Donald Trump also signed an executive order aimed at “maximizing parental choice” over childhood vaccines. It ordered federal agencies to support parental authority, including in challenges to some state vaccine requirements. A federal judge in Massachusetts paused the order in March. The administration is appealing.
In a January press release, Gov. Maura Healey said, “No matter what happens in Washington, in Massachusetts we will make public health decisions based on evidence and what will best protect our children and families.” The state currently recommends the full American Academy of Pediatrics immunization schedule.
In Belmont, Chin said his department attempts to answer every question from the public.
“If someone had concerns, we would provide them with data to help support whatever decision they make,” he said. “Our department is always willing to have those conversations, but at the end of the day, we always recommend that someone who has more technical, clinical questions speak with their primary care provider.”
Reflecting on the town’s approach to public health, Lemay said, “There are a lot of good people trying to do the best work they can to support public health and make sure our community is healthy.”
This story was written by a journalism student in BU’s Newsroom program, a partnership between the university, The Belmont Voice, and other news organizations in the Boston area.
