Fall River health director urges flu, MMR shots as respiratory illnesses rise

Tess Curran, agent of the Board of Health, reported Jan. 28 that the department is seeing "certainly high rates, rates of respiratory, you know, viruses," and urged residents to get flu shots.

Curran, returning from leave, said the department is encouraging vaccination for "anybody 6 months and up" and will work with schools and EMS on messaging and outreach. She flagged national hesitancy and a recent editorial suggesting declining MMR vaccination rates as a possible local risk and said the department will "do a deep dive" and coordinate with school contacts to address gaps.

Board members discussed local coverage and noted concerns about potential pockets of low MMR uptake; one member said in their ZIP code rates were in the seventies. Curran said she would follow up with staff and community partners to improve messaging and to explore targeted school-based efforts. The board received no citizen input and confirmed the next meeting date.