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A measles epidemic in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, has resulted in 285 measles cases reported since last September and officials are now taking emergency measures to prevent its spread.
On April 9, Blasio's administration declared a public health emergency, stating that of the 285 cases of which 246 were children, it was time to take action to prevent other cases . Since September, 21 people have been hospitalized and five have been admitted to intensive care. So far, there have been no deaths and the administration wants it to stay that way.
When vaccine education fails
Despite concerted educational efforts since last September, the use of the MMR vaccine has not reached the levels necessary for the outbreak to be controlled. The public health emergency has an uncompromising message: unvaccinated people living in the affected postal codes who may have been exposed to the virus must now receive the MMR vaccine.
Managers will verify this by reviewing immunization records among health cases. If it is clear that someone has not received the vaccine, he is likely, or more likely his parents, to a fine of up to $ 1,000, or even $ 39,000. ;a prison sentence. The postal codes in question are:
Dr. Oxiris Barbot, Health Commissioner, said unequivocally at the announcement of this official emergency: "As a pediatrician, I know that the MMR vaccine is safe and effective. This epidemic is fueled by a small group of anti-vaxxers in these neighborhoods. They spread false dangerous information based on false scientific data. "
Dr. Barbot seems to be referring to the release of a book called PEACH (Parent Education for Children's Health) which has been pbaded on to Jewish families and contains extremely erroneous information about vaccine safety. This is a major contributing factor to the measles epidemic in the region.
"We stand with the majority of this community who have worked hard to protect their children and those at risk," said Dr. Barbot. "We have seen a huge increase in the number of people vaccinated in these areas, but as Pbadover approaches, we must do everything in our power to ensure that more people get the vaccine."
Fighting the Brooklyn Measles Epidemic
The statement of urgency is the latest in a series of steps designed to protect the general public. Since December, the Department of Health has imposed the exclusion of unvaccinated students in schools in the affected areas, which may be closed. The New York Department of Health has also targeted yeshivas and day care programs that serve the Orthodox Jewish community to ensure they are aware of the crisis and get vaccinated.
In February of this year, the health department also asked Orthodox Jewish doctors to offer an extra dose of MMR vaccine to six- to eleven-month-old children in the Williamsburg and Borough Park area. This early dose would provide children with an extra layer of protection during this precarious period.
"There is no doubt that vaccines are safe, effective and save lives," Blasio's mayor said in a press release. "I urge everyone, especially the people in the affected areas, to get vaccinated against the MMR to protect their children, their families and their communities."
Controversy over religious exemptions
Although all this may seem reasonable, there are those who are not happy, especially with the mayor of Blasio who canceled the religious exemptions for vaccinations in the Williamsburg area.
As elsewhere in the country, people are threatening to sue for what they say is unconstitutional targeting of religious people. In this case, the trial attorneys also argue that the declaration of state of emergency is premature and that the threshold has not been reached for such actions to be committed, which makes it illegal to order the mandatory MMR vaccine. .
However, officials have brushed off these threats, saying there is a legal precedent for limited mandatory vaccine orders and, to be clear, no one will physically force or force parents to vaccinate their children. They may continue not to participate, but financial and legal consequences will result.
It should also be noted that the anti-vaccine movement within the Orthodox community is very much in the minority. Jewish teachings clearly indicate that it is paramount to follow the best medical advice on topics such as immunization and that even though there may be religious ethical considerations regarding vaccines (I & I). Historical use of fetal cell lines, for example), they are secondary to the current threat to children.
This case could create the confrontation sought by anti-vaccine groups so that they could try to find a legal basis for blocking mandatory vaccine orders. In the meantime, health officials in New York City are working to prevent children from getting measles – a dangerous, life-threatening but preventable disease.
Photo credit: NYC
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