HEALTH

Health experts say vaccine skepticism has long been a feature of both islands, setting the stage for highly contagious diseases like measles to potentially find a foothold.

On The Rundown, panelists discuss why some schools in western Mass. have lower vaccination rates, the Pittsfield man who is back at home after being unlawfully detained by ICE, and a pilot program to clean up nips.

In the heart of downtown New Bedford, a city forged by the diversity of its fishing, merchant and whaling history, stands the New Bedford Community Health center. Its commitment to the city's complex, multilingual fabric is deep: it provides health care regardless of a patient's immigration status, and its website offers translation in more than 200 languages.

The reasons are deeply nuanced and varied, meaning the exemption covers a wide variety of circumstances.

State law dictates how public schools approach vaccines. Proposed legislation in the Bay State would prevent parents from claiming religion as a reason for skipping vaccination.

Although standard vaccines are required by Massachusetts, it's up to local school districts to enforce the mandate - and they really don't want to keep children out of school.

This week on The Rundown, our panel takes on the local impacts of the federal government shutdown, a Legionella bacteria outbreak in Pittsfield, and what the latest MCAS test scores mean for Massachusetts students.

During a press conference held at Johnny Appleseed Park in Springfield, a partnership between the city and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department was announced to address the needle problem in the city’s parks.

We talk to doctors from the Hilltown Community Heath Center about their anniversary, preview the Festival of the Hills in Conway, and learn about the Trappist System from Mr. Universe.

Massachusetts lawmakers are preparing for an impending federal shutdown Wednesday if Congressional Democrats and Republicans don’t reach an agreement on a vital funding bill.