A bill that would end the religious exemption for vaccinations in New York is still be sought, as the bill’s sponsors on Tuesday continued their push for the measure amid a measles outbreak in Rockland County and Brooklyn.
“With over 840 confirmed cases, New York is facing a state of emergency with its worst measles outbreak in four decades,” said Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Democrat from Manhattan.
“Elected officials in California acted decisively and repealed all non-medical exemptions to vaccination requirements under their state law after suffering an outbreak at Disneyland in 2014 that resulted in at least 131 cases of measles. New York is currently facing more than six times the number of cases that spurred California to action. Our state’s inaction, in the face of such an overwhelming public health emergency, is appalling.”
The measure is yet to gain a vote in either chamber of the Legislature as lawmakers have raised concerns over the effect of the measure. The outbreak has predominantly impacted the Orthodox Jewish community.
“For those who are too young to be vaccinated or who have survived childhood cancer, organ transplants, or any number of other medical issues that compromise an immune system – there can be no doubt that this argument is false,” said Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz. “It is absolutely imperative that everyone who is medically able to get vaccinated does so in order to protect those who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signaled his support for the legislation.