Crowd gathers in Boston to protest flu shot mandate in Massachusetts

THEY HAVE TO SAY. PETER: THEY SAY THE MANDATE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND THEY ARE HOPING THAT A JUDGE WILL AGREE WITH THEM. >> THIS HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT OUR HEALTH. IT IS ABOUT CONTROL. PETER: VINNY DELANEY LEADING THE RALLY AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, THE PLACE HE PLANS ON FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS MANDATE ON REQUIRING STUDENTS, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE, GET THE FLU VACCINE. VINNY: THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON FOR A FLU SHOT TO BE MANDATED. IT IS A PARENT’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR CHILD. PETER: SIGNS HERE READING THE SAME THING. PARENTS DISSATISFIED WITH WHAT THEY CALL AN OVERREACH. >> BAKER HAS COME INTO OUR HOUSE AND HE HAS SAID THIS IS A MEDICAL TREATMENT YOU NEED TO DO. I’VE NEVER MET HIM. HE IS NOT MY DOCTOR. >> PARENTS WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE IN SCHOOL. THEY ARE VULNERABLE. I JUST FEEL LIKE IT DOES NOT SIT RIGHT WITH ME. PETER: MASSACHUSETTS ALREADY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST VACCINATION RATES IN THE COUNTRY, ONE REASON MANY THINK THE MANDATE IS UNNECESSARY. THE STATE SAYING IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO GET THE FLU SHOT BECAUSE THE SYMPTOMS ARE SIMILAR TO COVID-1 AND THE FLU SHOT WILL PRESERVE HEALTH CARE RESOURCES. MANY BELIEVE THIS IS A PRECURSOR TO OTHER MANDATES IN THE FUTURE. EVERYBODY SHOULD BE CONCERNED. IT IS NOT JUST WHETHER YOU ARE PRO- VAX. IT IS ABOUT CHOICES. IF THEY CAN MANDATE THIS, WHAT ELSE CAN THEY MANDATE TO US FOR OUR OWN GOOD? PETER: THE ORGANIZERS ARE HOPING TO FILE THE LAWSUIT AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN THE NEXT

Demonstrators gathered outside the Boston federal courthouse Monday afternoon to protest the flu shot mandate for all students in Massachusetts.Protesters carried signs reading, “My body, my choice” and “My child, my choice.”“There’s no rhyme or reason why a flu shot should be mandated by the governor,” said Vinnie Delaney, the organizer of the rally. “Again, it’s a parent’s right to choose what they do with their child.”In August, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that all students in the state’s schools -- from child care through college -- will be required to receive a flu vaccine by Dec. 31, pending a medical or religious exemption.State health officials say it is now more important than ever to get a flu shot because the symptoms are similar to those of COVID-19, and preventing the spread of the flu will help save lives and preserve health care resources.Some at Monday’s rally are not against the flu vaccine, but they are worried about the precedent set if the government is allowed to make this kind of mandate. In addition, they find the mandate unnecessary because Massachusetts has one of the highest flu vaccination rates in the country.Delaney says he plans to file a lawsuit against Gov. Charlie Baker and his administration in federal court within the next two weeks.

BOSTON —

Demonstrators gathered outside the Boston federal courthouse Monday afternoon to protest the flu shot mandate for all students in Massachusetts.

Protesters carried signs reading, “My body, my choice” and “My child, my choice.”

“There’s no rhyme or reason why a flu shot should be mandated by the governor,” said Vinnie Delaney, the organizer of the rally. “Again, it’s a parent’s right to choose what they do with their child.”

In August, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that all students in the state’s schools -- from child care through college -- will be required to receive a flu vaccine by Dec. 31, pending a medical or religious exemption.

State health officials say it is now more important than ever to get a flu shot because the symptoms are similar to those of COVID-19, and preventing the spread of the flu will help save lives and preserve health care resources.

Some at Monday’s rally are not against the flu vaccine, but they are worried about the precedent set if the government is allowed to make this kind of mandate. In addition, they find the mandate unnecessary because Massachusetts has one of the highest flu vaccination rates in the country.

Delaney says he plans to file a lawsuit against Gov. Charlie Baker and his administration in federal court within the next two weeks.

Crowd gathers in Boston to protest flu shot mandate in Massachusetts

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