Medford Approves Vaccine Requirement For Entertainment Venues

MEDFORD, MA — The Medford Board of Health approved its first proof of vaccination requirement on Tuesday.

The order, which goes into effect Wednesday at midnight, requires proof to be shown before entering large-scale entertainment venues like the Chevalier Theatre. It also reinstates the city's indoor mask mandate for people ages 5 and older.

Masks will not be required for people who are vaccinated when they are sitting inside a restaurant. However, customers of indoor performance venues may remove their masks only when eating or drinking.

In a message to the community, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said Medford's positivity rate has nearly doubled since the beginning of December and is now over 4 percent.

"Masks are an effective way to protect yourself and limit the spread of the virus, but the best tool we have to keep our community safe are vaccines," she said.

To that end, the city will hold weekly vaccination and booster clinics starting Friday, Jan. 7 at the Council on Aging from 9-11 a.m. Additionally, the school district will hold vaccine clinics for all eligible children ages 5-18 every Wednesday at Medford High School starting on Jan. 5. Registration will be required.

"With the holidays approaching and people looking to spend some much-needed time with loved ones, we're doing everything we can to keep people healthy and safe while celebrating this joyful time of year," the mayor said. "Please consider testing before you gather with family and friends. I know it’s been hard, but we’ll get through this together."