[ad_1]
The New York law requires that every student entering or attending a public, private or parish school receive a cocktail of immunizations, although medical and religious exemptions are allowed.
Many Orthodox Jews believe that vaccinations run counter to Jewish or Talmudic laws, leading to low vaccination rates in some communities, despite rabbis warning them of a mistaken belief with potentially disastrous consequences.
A growing measles epidemic in the Williamsburg area prompted health authorities in New York to issue the warrant on April 9, requiring all people living or working under ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211 and 11249 to receive the MMR vaccine. if they have not done so yet.
As of Monday, there were at least 267 measles cases confirmed in Williamsburg since September, 39 of which were reported last week. Health officials in New York said Jewish yeshivas and cribs were of particular concern.
At least one daycare center in Williamsburg has been closed since the mandate came into effect last week for failing to provide a vaccination card for students and staff at the health department. More than 20 yeshivas and daycares have received citations for violation of the order.
In their lawsuit, the parents claimed that the city reacted "irrationally" to the measles outbreak and that it did not pose an obvious danger to public health.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one to two out of every 1,000 children who contract the disease die.
"We always try to respect religious rights, religious customs, but when it comes to public health, when a problem arises, we have to deal with it aggressively," said the mayor of New York Bill of Blasio (D) last week. "We are absolutely certain that it is an appropriate use of our emergency powers."
Failure to comply with the 9 April order is an offense that can lead to various sanctions, including criminal fines or imprisonment, officials said.
In their lawsuit, parents of unvaccinated children claim that the warrant causes "irreparable harm" and complained of being "treated like outcasts".
"Parents, whose religious beliefs are ignored, risk becoming criminals if they simply do not do anything," the lawsuit said. "Parents who know better than anyone the health status of their children are threatened by the forced vaccination of their children against their will."
The order, issued by New York City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot, remains in effect until the New York City Board of Health meeting on Wednesday. It will be decided to maintain or cancel the mandate.
Measles cases in the United States rank second in 25 years, and their numbers are expected to increase, according to figures released by the CDC on Monday.
The virus was almost eliminated in the United States in 2000, but the CDC report that an increasing number of unvaccinated communities is causing the upsurge of epidemics.
[ad_2]
Source link