逾千民眾冒著近華氏2度低溫看波士頓廣場聖誕樹點燈

波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu，中)和新斯科細亞省（Nova Scotia）
省長Tim Houston（左），以及聖誕老人一點亮聖誕樹。（周菊子攝）

             (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 12月4日晚上，數以千計大波士頓民眾，冒著有如華氏2度低溫，圍在波士頓廣場聖誕樹前，欣賞歌舞，看著波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）、聖誕老人按亮聖誕樹，頂著漫天飄下如雪般白紙，興奮的感受節日氣氛。

來自加拿大哈利法克斯的這株白雲山高45英尺。（周菊子攝）

            新斯科細亞省（Nova Scotia）省長Tim Houston今年照例參加了這株有45英尺高聖誕樹的亮燈儀式。哈利法克斯市長Andy Fillmore則是第一次親到波士頓市長辦公室回訪。

今年是第84屆的波士頓廣場聖誕樹亮燈儀式，也是新斯科細亞省（Nova Scotia）送樹，感謝波士頓市在1917年12月6日哈利法克斯（Halifax）港一艘彈藥船爆炸，立即趕往馳援的第54年。那一年，波士頓市在災難發生的不到24小時之內，就裝滿了一火車的必需品，以及急救人員，開到哈利法克斯參加救災活動。

活動現場有許多小朋友也被邀上台同慶。（周菊子攝）

波士頓市長吳弭在今年的11月9日至12日，應邀前往加拿大哈利法克斯市（Halifax）收樹，還操刀參加鋸樹，成為了有史以來第一位親自到加拿大參加這活動的波士頓市長。

哈利法克斯市長Andy Fillmore在12月4日這天，也親自到波士頓市長辦公室回訪。

禮物襪，拐杖糖是傳統的聖誕節象徵。（周菊子攝）

在波士頓廣場點亮來自加拿大哈利法克斯白雲衫聖誕樹，也因為這歷史，成為大波士頓人非常喜愛的傳統。

舞台後面的聖誕樹被點亮了，五彩繽紛。（周菊子攝）

            今年的亮燈儀式，由WCVB第5號電視頻道「編年史(Chronicle)」節目的共同主播Anthony Everett和Shayna Seymour主持，從7點開始轉播。表演者包括美國女生團，「指針姊妹（The Pointer Sister）」演唱熱門歌曲「我好興奮（I m so Excited）」等歌曲，新斯科細亞省藍調音樂新星馬特·安德森（Matt Andersen）、迪士尼百老匯音樂劇的貝琳達·艾琳(Belinda Allyn)表演《美女與野獸》，新斯科舍省另類流行歌手兼詞曲作家瑪吉·安德魯（Maggie Andrew）的歌曲，以及亨德爾和海頓(Handel and Haydn)協會青年合唱團的演唱。

波士頓市府表示，這株聖誕樹裝了大約5000盞燈，整個波士頓廣場共懸掛了超過5萬盞燈，為波士頓是襯托出節日氣氛。（更新版，增加一張Commonwealth Ave.的路樹照片。）

觀眾們應表演者要求，站起來一起舞動。（周菊子攝）

在波士頓市公園局圍起來的活動現場內，只擺了二、三百張椅子。（周菊子攝）

WCVB電視台做現場轉播的舞台。（周菊子攝）

演唱者之一。（周菊子攝）

舞台右側還有大銀幕，讓人看見轉播內容。（周菊子攝）

演唱者之二。（周菊子攝）

波士頓廣場上的燈飾，同時亮起。（周菊子攝）

波士頓廣場從12月4日起聖誕節慶氣氛濃厚。（周菊子攝)

波士頓市長吳弭在點亮波士頓廣場的聖誕樹後，轉往Commonwealth Ave.，
點亮了一整排路樹。（周菊子攝）

50多華埠居民簽請願書反對「中央插頁」搬到大街上

Hi Boston青年旅社代表請華埠居民千請願書，反對「中央插頁」成人俱樂部搬到
大街去。（居民會提供）

             (Boston Orange波士頓整理報導) 波士頓華埠居民會12月3日開會，議程簡單，主要內容為警察局報告4宗案件，50多出席居民當場簽請願書，支持反對「中央插頁（Centerfolds）」成人俱樂部搬遷，提醒居民12月7日下午3點，波士頓市長的聖誕列車開進華埠。

            這晚波士頓警察局Ａ-1區警察黃天輝（Frank Wong）等人報告的4宗案件中，正好有和夜總會，酒醉鬧事有關，輪到討論「中央插頁」成人俱樂部搬遷案時，居民發言格外踴躍，一面倒的表示反對，擔心該俱樂部從小巷搬到大街去，會對地方治安造成更大影響，嚴重破壞華埠消滅紅燈區的多年努力成果。

            青年旅社Hi Boston 的經理Joseph Guliano和代表該公司的O'Neill and Associates 副總裁Christopher W. Tracy當晚到會，拿出一份請願書，解說內容，邀請居民們簽名支持，反對「中央插頁」搬遷到史都華街（Stuart）上。

波士頓警察局A-1區警察黃天輝報告4宗罪案。（居民會提供）

            60多名出席的華埠居民中，有50多人當場就簽了請願書，還紛紛表示會和其他居民聯繫，集結更多反對力量。

            波士頓市議員愛德華費連（Ed Flynn）的助理盧善柔（Mellisa Lo）這晚也出席了會議，座中居民請她把反對的聲音帶回市府去。

            波士頓警察黃天輝這晚報告的案件，分別為：

11月30日 (週日) 凌晨 1:50 至 2:10 之間，在華盛頓街和尼倫街（Kneeland）交界處發生一宗非武力搶劫案。受害者當時神智不清且腳步不穩，表示自己在

 Bijou 夜總會外遇到一名穿淺色衣服的白人男性，對方以「你手機掉了，往這邊走」為由把他騙到巷弄內，隨後夥同另一名白人及兩名蒙面黑人，4人聯手強行搶走受害者手腕上價值約 8,000 美元的勞力士手錶 (Air King Pilot)。受害者曾試圖反抗，雖未受傷但拒絕接受醫療檢查。案件將由第一分局偵探進一步調查。

11月15日 (週六) 下午 3:50，在尼倫街（Kneeland）35號那兒，發生一宗救護車內設備被偷案。警方在晚間7:30收到報案消息，聲稱一輛岸邊醫療運輸公司（Coastal Medical Transportation）的救護車（A197）停在路邊時，有一名身穿黑色夾克的白人女性，從這車裏偷走一台行動數據終端機 (MDT Coastal 126) 後離去。受害人已向警方提供該名女嫌疑人的照片。

11月1日 及 11月22日，好事福街（Oxford）10 號公寓包裹遭竊。事件發生在11月1日的時間不詳；11月22日約為上午8點。報案者稱，11月1日時，有一個值 698.72 美元的 Stitch Fix 衣物包裹被撕開，裏面的東西不見了，只剩個空盒子留在他的房門口。他不知道偷東西的是誰，告訴了房東這回事，11月22日早上8點左右，在公寓大樓的前面大堂，有一個內裝各種物品，價值275元的亞馬遜包裹被撕開，裡面東西被人拿走，只剩個空盒子。受害者稱，那天早上10點，他能從攝像機的錄影看到，樓宇內有一不知名男子在早上8點左右，拿著一個盒子。根據照片，一名族亦不詳男子，戴著白色棒球帽、穿橘或紅外套及破洞藍色牛仔褲的男子拿著該包裹。受害者懷疑房東知曉嫌犯身分但拒絕向他透露。

11月7日 (週五) 下午 5:44，在必珠街（Beach）65號發生一宗持危險武器攻擊案。警察原本在處理其他案件，被民眾攔下，前往處理。賣酒店（Truong Thanh Liquors）老闆指控一名男子用酒瓶襲擊店員。警察抵達時，看到受傷店員額頭腫脹，哭泣，地上滿是碎玻璃，找來救護車，把受害者送到麻省總醫院治療。嫌犯在被請出店舖外時，還叫囂，指控警察毆打他，警察進一步查詢，發現嫌犯已因「持危險武器攻擊」正被通緝中，立即逮補，再加控持危險武器攻擊、妨害治安 (Disorderly Conduct) 及破壞財產等罪名。

川普政府“旅行”禁令擬擴大到30多國 AAJA斥助長種族仇恨

           (Boston Orange綜合編譯) 亞裔美國人正義促進會（Advancing Justice，簡稱AAJC）12月4日發文，譴責川普政府把「旅行禁令（Travel Ban）」擴大到甚至30多個國家，指這是利用單一悲劇事件，誤導視聽，推動殘酷的排外政策，

本週稍早，華盛頓特區（DC）發生2名國家衛隊士兵遭遇槍襲案。調查人員稱嫌犯是2021年經由安置計劃進入美國的阿富汗公民。槍擊案發生後數日，川普總統誓言要永久暫停來自第三世界的所有移民。

            國土安全局(DHS)也立即採取措施，暫停對來自2025年6月旅遊禁令上19個國家的所有移民福利審查，意味著已經排期的入籍宣誓和綠卡面試，都將被取消。

另外，川普政府將實施回溯性審查，針對2021年1月20日拜登（Biden）政府上台後入境者，要求他們接受重新審查和重新面試。

國土安全局局長Kristi Noem也在12月4日接受福斯新聞（Fox News）訪問時證實，川普政府認為有些國家政府不穩定，無法協助美國做背景審查，正在評估，把旅行禁令名單，從19個國家擴大到30個以上國家。

川普政府也將暫停對所有國家國民的庇護申請裁決。

亞裔美國人正義促進會（AAJC）針對川普政府的手段，發表了措辭嚴厲聲明，稱「政府利用這一悲劇推動仇外政策是誤導且殘酷的。這些新政策基於一個人的行為去妖魔化許多人，助長了種族仇恨」。

AAJA指出，受影響的許多是遵循規則，已經等待多年的合法移民。取消入籍儀式和綠卡面試不僅浪費政府資源、加劇案件積壓，更踐踏了「正當程序（Due Process）」。他們呼籲政府應恢復人道的移民程序，而非為了政治目的犧牲整個社區的權益。

在槍擊事件之前，國土安全局人員曾說，窗普總統下令大面積的重新檢視前總統拜登（Joe Biden）任內批准的特赦個案，以及發給19國公民的綠卡。

在川普政府今年6月宣佈的移民政策變化中，受影響的19個國家，分「全面禁止」與「限制入境」2類。

被標誌為具「恐怖主義」或安全威脅，全面禁止入境的有12國：

阿富汗 (Afghanistan) （註：本次槍擊案嫌疑人來源國，審查核心）

伊朗 (Iran)

利比亞 (Libya)

索馬利亞 (Somalia)

蘇丹 (Sudan)

葉門 (Yemen)

敘利亞 (Syria) 

緬甸 (Burma/Myanmar)

查德 (Chad)

厄利垂亞 (Eritrea)

赤道幾內亞 (Equatorial Guinea)

剛果共和國 (Republic of the Congo) 

限制入境，針對特定簽證類型（如商務、旅遊、學生）或官員實施限制的有7國：

委內瑞拉 (Venezuela)

北韓 (North Korea) 

白俄羅斯 (Belarus) 或 吉爾吉斯 (Kyrgyzstan) 

奈及利亞 (Nigeria)

坦尚尼亞 (Tanzania)

寮國 (Laos)

柬埔寨 (Cambodia) 

Governor Healey Denounces ACIP Vote on Hep B Vaccine: “This is about the health and safety of our children”

Governor Healey Denounces ACIP Vote on Hep B Vaccine: “This is about the health and safety of our children” 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein are denouncing today’s vote by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to abandon the longstanding recommendation that newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.  

“This is about the health and safety of our children. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe, effective and lifesaving. It has been recommended for newborns since 1991 and has resulted in a 99 percent decrease in pediatric infection rates,” said Governor Healey. “This vote by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s handpicked advisers is dangerous and wrong. I want the people of Massachusetts to know that your state Department of Public Health – led by an actual doctor and guided by science and data – continues to recommend that newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine. We are going to continue to work with other states to ensure that all of our residents can receive the vaccines they need and want to keep them and their children healthy.” 

“As an infectious disease physician, I cannot overstate how reckless this move is,” said Commissioner Goldstein. “Removing the newborn hepatitis B vaccine from the routine schedule is a decision driven by ideology – not science – and it ignores decades of irrefutable evidence that this dose saves lives. For more than three decades, the birth dose has been one of the safest, most effective, and most powerful tools we have to prevent lifelong infection, liver failure, and liver cancer. Turning away from a proven, lifesaving intervention puts infants at unnecessary risk and undermines the very foundation of evidence-based public health. Despite this misguided decision, the hepatitis B birth dose will remain available in Massachusetts, and the Department of Public Health continues to strongly recommend that every newborn receive a dose just after birth.” 

Because of legislation signed by Governor Healey, the DPH can set immunization schedules and requirements in Massachusetts, including for the Childhood Vaccine Program. Massachusetts continues to recommend that newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine. 

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can lead to serious long-term health problems, including chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Because the virus can be passed from an infected mother to the baby during birth, newborns are at particular risk of developing lifelong infection.   

Administering the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose and completing the full hepatitis B vaccine series in the first 18 months of life protects infants and children during a vulnerable time of their lives. Delaying vaccination misses a crucial window of potential exposure, putting infants at risk. Clinicians should continue to offer hepatitis B vaccine to all newborns at birth and administer the full vaccination series in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations.

波士頓慈濟年終火鍋宴 細數去年活動感謝志工

波士頓慈濟志工感恩彥，每人手裡拿著台灣師姐送的鳳梨酥，愛心吊飾。（周菊子攝）

              (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州牛頓市報導)波士頓慈濟日前在牛頓市會所以豐盛火鍋宴，感謝志工一年來的匡扶相助，慈濟紐約分會執行長蘇煜升特地遠道趕來，和波士頓慈濟負責人長金滿，一起送上紀念禮品，感謝慈誠級師兄姐一年來的付出。

長金滿率眾人鼓掌，歡迎紐約慈濟蘇煜昇執行長抵達。（周菊子攝）

            籌辦這場感恩活動的人，很有心，追上了人工智慧(AI)潮流的請ChatGPT用一張圖片來做總結。同時播放了波士頓慈濟2024年簡報片，2025年的活動概況，將在年終祈福會中播放。

這一年，波士頓慈濟做了很多事，不但服務地點從牛頓市，波士頓市擴展到劍橋市，一下子有了3個據點，還在急難救助，鼓吹素食之餘，慈濟人文學校也藉由加入成為海外華語文教學中心，針對外籍家長的辦了成人中文班，學員們收穫滿滿，波士頓慈濟也很開心。

波士頓經文處黃耀良組長（右）特地出席，會晤來自紐約舊友。（周菊子攝）

            現場播出的影片是波士頓慈濟的2024年“大藏經”。其中讓人感動的情景之一，是主流學校的小朋友們主動選擇了慈濟，作為他們的捐款給非牟利機構對象，也讓他們有了愛和善的種子，已在幼苗中成長茁壯的喜悅。

高金花（左）、鄧淑芳（又）等人味道會煮火鍋。（周菊子攝）

          中國城服務站，是各以耆英為主要服務對象的分支。過去這一年來，在林碧華，陳裕逢，李豐，高金花，童斐君，宋永麒，楊美宜，林建璋等熱心慈濟志工支援下，他們辦過新春剪紙，吹畫，茶道，蔬食烹煮，參觀博物館，踏青採蘋果，健康講座，感恩聚餐，手作聖誕毛帽，學習使用手機等許多不同活動，許多耆英還自動自發地參加了清掃華埠接到的義舉。

波士頓慈濟的劍橋服務中心，主要以年輕人為對象，由外展專員喬琥等人策劃活動，不但據點內需要的的裝備，全由志工們親手打造，啟用以來，也辦了許多活動，包括音樂夜，蔬食夜，同樂夜，專業夜，還有聖誕活動。

林碧華（左）、陳裕逢（中）陪伴來自中國城的耆英們同桌享用火鍋。（周菊子攝）

波士頓慈濟還培訓慈少，慈青，組織義工到流民收容所，為流民烹煮熱食，拜訪邀請商舖加入愛心商店行列，辦慈少才藝演出，為颶風受災戶募款，為新移民募集物資，探訪老人院。慈濟也組織志工上門幫助有需要的個別人士，緬懷2025年辭世的波士頓第一顆慈濟種子蔡靜薇師姐。

哈佛訪問學者邱琳婷（右）和紐約慈濟分會執行長蘇煜昇邊吃邊聊。（周菊子攝）

          這場感恩聚會，最後在陳裕逢、馮美霞主持的卡啦OK時間中結束，波士頓慈濟負責人長金滿和波士頓慈濟人文學校校長鄧淑芳透露，到年終祈福時，該聯絡處會有重大消息宣佈。（修訂版）

波士頓台灣影展協會共會長蔡景全（左起）、林致中和劍橋慈濟的陳筠媞
等年輕人，相談甚歡。（周菊子攝）

紐約來的師姐們（左起）和慈濟紐約分會執行長蘇煜昇（右ㄧ）。（周菊子攝）

慈濟志工們圍桌而聚。（周菊子攝）

波士頓唐人街參加掃街等活動的志工，應邀參加志工宴。（周菊子攝）

蔡瑞禮（中）雖然以普賢講堂為主要歸屬，同時也為慈濟當志工，服務人群。
（周菊子攝）

慈濟紐約分會執行長蘇煜昇致詞。（周菊子攝）

波士頓慈濟負責人長金滿舉臂高呼，請志工出馬。（周菊子攝）

波士頓慈濟負責人長金滿（左）和波士頓慈濟人文學校校長鄧淑芳互相勉勵。
（周菊子攝）

鄧淑芳的比喻用詞，一度讓場內爆笑。（周菊子攝）

慈濟紐約分會執行長蘇煜昇虔誠的向慈誠級志工，送上感恩禮品。（周菊子攝）

陳裕逢（中）和馮美霞（又）主持節目，抽獎。（周菊子攝）

波士頓慈濟有不少人是全家一起做慈濟。（周菊子攝）

波士頓慈濟人在活動現場後方鼓掌，默默支持。（周菊子攝）

應邀獻唱的出席者，一曲多語歌，聽得與會眾人驚嘆。（周菊子攝）

慈濟劍橋服務站的陳筠提這天負責音響。（周菊子攝）

排排坐，聽唱歌，等抽獎。（周菊子攝）

火鍋之外，還有許多甜點。（周菊子攝）

ChatGPT製作的波士頓慈濟年度活動圖。

Children’s Advocates Applaud Reintroduction of the Dream Act to Provide Pathway to Citizenship for Young Immigrants

 Children’s Advocates Applaud Reintroduction of the Dream Act to Provide Pathway to Citizenship for Young Immigrants

Washington, DC, December 4, 2025—Today, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the bipartisan Dream Act of 2025, a bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship for people who came to the United States with their families as children. As litigation against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program continues, and the federal government continues to make unlawful arrests of DACA recipients and other immigrant youth, this legislation is urgently needed to finally provide a permanent solution to hundreds of thousands of longstanding immigrants and their families.

 

Members of the Children Thrive Action Network (CTAN) issued the following statements:

 

Wendy Cervantes, Director of Immigration and Immigrant Families at the Center for Law and Social Policy: “For DACA recipients and immigrant youth, the United States is home. They were brought to this country as children and babies, and are now deeply rooted and fully contributing members of American society. They are parents, breadwinners, homeowners, entrepreneurs, caregivers, educators, and integral members of our communities. Facing the indiscriminate detention and deportation tactics of the federal government, both DACA recipients and undocumented young people are in urgent need of this long overdue legislation that will finally allow them to establish a secure future for themselves and their families. As advocates for children, we urge our Senators to support the Dream Act now.”

 

Liza M. Davis, Advocacy Director, Children in Immigrant Families, The Children’s Partnership: “The introduction of the bipartisan Dream Act of 2025 is a critical step toward protecting the health and stability of millions of children and families. The DACA program has provided more than 500,000 young people—nearly a third of whom live in California—with safety, legal work authorization, and the ability to support their families. Nearly 1 in 4 DACA recipients is a parent, meaning efforts to dismantle DACA directly undermine children’s housing, nutrition, and emotional security. Ongoing threats to DACA—and the harmful rhetoric targeted at immigrant communities—create fear and instability that research shows harms entire families, especially children, by increasing anxiety and toxic stress. When parents and caregivers are protected, children thrive. Now is the time for Congress to protect DACA families and pass a permanent solution.”

 

Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Executive Director, Children's HealthWatch: “Many DACA recipients are now parents of young children. Creating a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and their families recognizes the richness they bring to this country and helps provide the foundation for health that all young children need. Research by Children’s HealthWatch finds that immigrant families with young children have many characteristics associated with better health, including being more likely to live in a two-parent family, have at least one adult employed in the family, and have children born at a healthy weight. Children thrive when they have a stable environment—including strong attachments to their parents—and have all their basic needs met. Removing barriers to full participation in our communities through this legislation ensures that these families can fully contribute to the prosperity and well-being of the nation they already call home.”

 

Martin Kim, Director of Immigration Advocacy, Advancing Justice | AAJC: “When the DACA program was first announced, over 14,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander youth who were brought to the United States as children were able to secure a temporary form of status. Over more than a decade, Asian American and Pacific Islander DACA recipients, as well as other immigrant youth, have built a life here, with many even starting families. These integral members of our community, including about 100,000 AAPI individuals who were eligible for DACA but never received it, have been denied permanent relief for far too long. The Dream Act would provide the permanency that these communities demand and deserve. We urge Congress to support the Dream Act, more than a decade after DACA was first introduced.”

Ahead of ACIP Meeting, Governor Healey and Public Health Leaders Commit to Protecting Access to Safe, Effective and Life-Saving Childhood Vaccines

 Ahead of ACIP Meeting, Governor Healey and Public Health Leaders Commit to Protecting Access to Safe, Effective and Life-Saving Childhood Vaccines 

BOSTON  – Amid rising misinformation and attempts to restrict access to vaccines by President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Governor Maura Healey and Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein yesterday convened pediatricians and other public health leaders to emphasize Massachusetts’ commitment to protecting access to safe, effective and life-saving vaccines, especially for children.  

The event, Strengthening Trust in Childhood Vaccines: A DPH-Hosted Forum for Providers and the Public Health Community, was held the day before the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) begins discussions that could alter long-standing and proven infant hepatitis B vaccination recommendations and the full childhood immunization schedule. 

“Vaccines are safe, effective and lifesaving. No matter what President Trump and Secretary Kennedy do in Washington, we are going to make sure that Massachusetts residents have access to the vaccines they want and need to keep them and their families healthy, especially our children,” said Governor Healey. “We will continue to provide evidence-based information to our residents and make vaccine recommendations that are rooted in data and science.” 

Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD, warned that any move to weaken evidence-based protections for newborns could have disastrous consequences, putting the tiniest and most vulnerable in our state at the greatest risk. He also reinforced the critical importance of grounding vaccine policy in rigorous science.  

“Our job is to follow the data – and the data here are beyond reproach,” said Commissioner Goldstein. “For more than three decades, the hepatitis B birth dose has safely protected babies from a silent, deadly virus that can too often go undetected in parents. The science is unequivocal, and the stakes are enormous. We owe families clarity, consistency, and reassurance that their public health system is guided by solid evidence – evidence that can be trusted and evidence that will not change with shifting political winds.”  

Goldstein noted that the hepatitis B vaccine has reduced pediatric infection rates by 99 percent nationwide, calling it “one of the most successful public health interventions of our time.”  

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can lead to serious long-term health problems, including chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Because the virus can be passed from an infected mother to the baby during birth, newborns are at particular risk of developing lifelong infection.  

“A healthy, thriving Massachusetts must be built on trust – trust in science, trust in our health care system, and trust that our state will always safeguard the well-being of its residents,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, MD. “Yesterday’s conversation represented an important step toward rallying the greater health care ecosystem in our state to reinforce that trust and preserve access to the protections every family and every child deserve.”  

Throughout the forum, attended by more than 100 people, many participants voiced deep alarm about efforts to weaken long-standing immunization recommendations that have dramatically reduced preventable disease in children. Providers described the increased daily challenges of countering misinformation that parents have seen on the web or social platforms, or heard from family, friends, and neighbors. Their comments reflected both urgency about the harmful effects of misinformation and a shared commitment to safeguard children and families.  

The insights shared at the event will help inform DPH’s next steps to preserve vaccines as a cornerstone of child health – from enhancing provider support, to strengthening community outreach, to countering misinformation with clear, science-based communication.  

Governor Healey has taken a number of steps to protect public health in Massachusetts, especially when it comes to the availability and affordability of vaccines. Last week, she reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the existing hepatitis B vaccine schedule to safeguard newborns. She signed legislation allowing the DPH to issue its own vaccine recommendations rooted in science and data. She’s criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for directing the CDC to post false information about links between vaccines and autism. She directed the Commissioner of Public Health to issue a standing order for all Massachusetts residents to be able to get the COVID vaccine, directed health insurers to cover COVID vaccines, and made it easier to administer flu vaccines.