Measles in Rockland County: A parent and a doctor express

TO CLOSE

A judge of the state Supreme Court announced today that he would rule within 24 hours on the legality of the Ed Day emergency ordinance of the executive council of the Rockland County prohibiting unvaccinated children from schools, places of worship and other public places.
Peter Carr, [email protected]

A parent and a pediatric doctor spoke Saturday in Newark on behalf of families who have challenged the Rockland County executive's order to ban children from leaving classrooms and public places after an epidemic. measles.

It was the day after a judge had suspended Ed Day's emergency statement from the Rockland County Executive Board banning unvaccinated children from attending school, places of worship and schoolchildren. Other public places.

"The fact that a state administrator, or a county administrator, or a Ministry of Health with uncertain references, and even more mixed statements to the press, can get in between me and my doctor's decision regarding my child's health is unreasonable. continues, and that's why I put myself at stake financially, over time, with the public opinion, to say that it must change, "said the parent, who has a child who attended the Green Meadow Waldorf School.

Day issued a statement on March 26 stating a measles outbreak that began in October when an Israeli traveler returned to the county, resulting in 167 cases occurring in orthodox island communities and Hasidic.

The mother, who identified herself as JR, read pre-written responses about her involvement in the prosecution, including her concerns about the disruption of her family's life because her child was to be kept at home. House. J.R. stated that she had not vaccinated her child against measles because of a religious exception.

Michael Sussman, the lawyer of several dozens of parents whose unvaccinated children attended the Green Meadow Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge and two other sister schools, also had Hennie Fitzpatrick on hand while they were meeting the media at Hilton DoubleTree, near Newark Airport.

Fitzpatrick is a New Jersey doctor who has been supporting parents in another lawsuit against the Rockland County Health Department.

Fitzpatrick, whose specialty is pediatrics, said that measles was not a "dangerous virus" and that there was "no particular risk" to the public. She also said that families should have a "choice" for vaccination against measles and other viruses. She also stated that she did not agree with the ban, but that it was a personal and not a personal opinion. medical advice.

Sussman said that the decision of Interim Supreme Court Justice Rolf Thorsen meant that children whose families had filed suit could return to school.

"Rather than quarantine the affected population, the county executive has attempted to quarantine healthy children who are not carriers of the disease," Sussman said. He also stated that he would like to sit down with Day to discuss the issue with public health professionals.

Sussman also said that children whose families were involved in the trial were not attending schools with measles cases.

The people involved in challenging the Rockland County Executive Power Order to ban children from classrooms and public places after a measles outbreak have talked more about the case at the time. A press conference held Saturday in Newark. (Photo: Ricardo Kaulessar / NorthJersey.com)

More: Measles outbreak: most states allow exemptions from school vaccination requirements

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