Measles outbreak: Legislators move to end religious exemptions from vaccines amid outbreak

[TexasTowelie]

NEW YORK CITY - State legislators are pushing to end non-medical exemptions to vaccinations for school-aged children, as measles cases in Brooklyn, Queens and Rockland County have reached 425.

Legislation in Albany mirrors one passed in California after a measles outbreak spread through Disneyland in 2015.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman and state Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, the main sponsors of the bills, were joined by medical professionals and State Sen. David Carlucci, D-New City, Thursday afternoon on the steps of City Hall to call for support of the legislation.

"The goal here is to push legislation to remove all non-medical exemptions for vaccination for children to go to school in New York state," Carlucci said. "We've seen the spread of measles really spread like wildfire in communities where the vaccination rates are not high."

Read more: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/local/rockland/2019/04/04/measles-religious-exemptions-new-york/3362373002/

[Aussie105]

1. The religious defense

should never have been accepted when it was first trotted out.

Where does it say 'Thou shalt not be vaccinated'? (Biblical quotation/reference needed)

But a decent outbreak might show the anti-vaxxers that their thinking needs a bit of fine tuning.

[TruckFump]

2. Hey, they get court orders for JW minors to have life saving blood transfusions

Why not vaccines for those who have religious reasons to not vaccinate their kids? People die from the diseases the anti-vaxxers are trying to boycott. There is freedom OF religion as well as freedom FROM religion. They have no right to foist their beliefs on others when there threats to well being and health.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. These cases are largely in and around ultra-orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, which is...

odd because Jewish law puts the saving of life as the highest obligation. A large number of orthodox rabbis and the Orthodox Union itself have called for immunizations, but Jews are human and subject to the flaws of our species.

Although all branches of Judaism have called for vaccinations, there are still anti-vax rabbis and activists out there trying to stop it. And they are being heard.

[Staph]

4. West Virginia only allows a medical exemption, from the child's regular physician.

We aren't in the midst of a measles outbreak, unlike neighboring Kentucky.

Or y'all in New York.

[yellowdogintexas]

5. good for WVA

the doctor knows best

[BigmanPigman]

6. 425!

Do it NOW! This is a health issue, not a religious one. Damn their BS and vaccinate everyone! The only reasonable excuses should be medical ones like "if you vaccinate me my arm will turn green and will rot off immediately". Other than that, no excuses.