Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Vaccination Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Researcher says Massachusetts' religious vaccine exemption is being used to opt out of shots
Summary
Dr. Matt Moda, a public-health researcher, told the Inside Brookline Health podcast that some parents cite religion to avoid childhood vaccines and that pending state legislation would eliminate Massachusetts' religious exemption; he urged residents to contact legislators and use proven communication strategies to raise MMR coverage.
Dr. Matt Moda, an associate professor at the Department of Health Law, Policy and Management at Boston University School of Public Health, said Massachusetts' religious exemption for school vaccines is being used by some parents whose objections are not grounded in religious doctrine.
"In Massachusetts, we do not have a philosophical exemption. We have a religious exemption," Moda said, explaining the legal framework that lets families opt out of required school vaccinations for claimed religious reasons.
Moda framed the issue as part legal and part behavioral: while every state sets its own school-entry vaccine requirements, the availability and type of nonmedical exemptions affects uptake. "Every state has some form of a vaccine mandate for students who are entering schools in that state," he said, and "the more exemption laws you have on the books, the more likely people are to use them."
Why it matters: Moda warned that rising exemption use can lower community protection against measles and other childhood diseases. "Public health — the public's health — declines when there are more opportunities to opt out and when more people take it," he said, noting that measles is among the most contagious illnesses and that MMR vaccination, while highly effective, is not perfect.
Moda noted there was active debate in the statehouse: "There is legislation pending at the state legislature right now that would end Massachusetts' religious vaccine exemption policy," he said, adding that the bill had not become law at the time of the recording.
For Brookline listeners, Moda said the commonwealth maintains strong vaccine reporting and that most Brookline schools show high MMR uptake, though very small schools may not publish numbers for privacy reasons. He emphasized the public-health target for measles control: coverage generally needs to be closer to 92–95% to stop spread.
On tactics residents can use, Moda recommended direct civic engagement and communication techniques. Constituents who favor repeal can contact their state legislators; in conversations among friends and neighbors he suggested emphasizing personal stories and individual risk. "Highlighting stories of people who regret not vaccinating" and framing messages about the threat to an individual or family, he said, is often more persuasive than abstract appeals to the collective.
Moda also recommended using trusted, nonpartisan messengers where possible — citing research that messages from broadly trusted institutions can bridge partisan divides — and offered practical outreach advice listeners can use in informal settings.
The episode's host, Dr. Kristania Sulcotte, co-president of the Friends of Brookline Public Health, closed by directing listeners to local resources: the Brookline health department's CARES Brookline resource navigation and the podcast's show notes for links to vaccination services. The show also thanked Brookline Interactive Group (BIG) and asked listeners to consider supporting BIG at brooklineinteractive.org/donate.
The discussion was framed as informational; the hosts reminded listeners that the podcast is not medical advice and encouraged consultation with a qualified professional for individual health decisions.
