Flu season is entering the stage when cases begin their slow and steady uptick and when EDs begin to see more and more patients afflicted by respiratory ailments.

The state’s respiratory illness dashboard tracks incidents and is updated every week.

Yesterday, MHA joined the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Department of Public Health to send this letter to caregivers across the state requesting their partnership in promoting, encouraging, and facilitating vaccination of their communities, patient populations, and staff.

“High vaccination rates help prevent severe infection and are critical to minimizing the impact of respiratory viruses on the healthcare system,” reads the letter signed by DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, M.D., MHA President & CEO Steve Walsh, and MMS President Olivia Liao, M.D.

The letter contains links to the current COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccine recommendations, as well as a reminder that DPH licensure regulations “require hospitals and licensed healthcare facilities to ensure all healthcare personnel receive their annual flu vaccine and the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine that became available this fall. Consistent with prior years, DPH continues to expect that hospitals will provide vaccinations to any admitted patient who has not received a seasonal flu vaccine or 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine.”

DPH has also made available a seasonal vaccine social media toolkit, with sample posts, social media graphic, flyers, and videos that hospitals and others can use to increase awareness about respiratory illnesses and the need to get vaccinated. The materials are available in English, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.

Also available is:

Vaccine information for the general public

Vaccine information for healthcare and public health professionals