Newton Public Schools have a lot of unvaccinated students, and the district is cracking down and reinstating requirements that were relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The district’s central office recently sent out a message letting NPS families know that, during a meeting with the city’s Health and Human Services team, school administration learned that since 2020, 182 students were allowed to enroll in NPS without standard immunizations required by the state to attend public schools in Massachusetts.

“These matters came to our attention due to a series of cases of chicken pox, which were dealt with last week and brought us to a review of our students and their immunization status,” the NPS message notes.

This is at a time when measles cases are popping up nationwide, and the NPS data shows 42 students who aren’t immunized for measles.

And that could put the community at risk of a measles outbreak if the virus shows up in Newton. So, while the former superintendent was able to waive vaccination requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, Superintendent Anna Nolin has reinstated those requirements.

“Students who have been identified as missing immunizations vary in terms of which required immunizations they need,” the message continues, “However, detailed expectations will be shared with each family.”

Notices will continue to go to families of unvaccinated kids, and those kids won’t be allowed back in school until they comply.

There are some exemptions, and they require documentation, but the 182 students have not met any of the criteria for exemptions.

And any unvaccinated student who has been exposed to measles has to quarantine from school for three weeks.

Families without a primary care doctor can have their kids vaccinated for measles by a school nurse or the city’s Health and Human Services Department.

“In short: there is no barrier in Newton for any family to be vaccinated according to the law,” the NPS message concludes.

You can read the state’s requirements for public school vaccination here.