New York County bars unvaccinated kids from public places

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Rockland County has declared a state of emergency over the ongoing measles outbreak, with Executive Ed Day announcing that non-vaccinated minors are now barred from public places.

Now in effect, anyone who is under 18 years of age and is not vaccinated against the measles is prohibited from public places until the declaration expires in 30 days or until they receive the MMR vaccination.

Officials said law enforcement will not be patrolling the streets or asking for vaccination records, but if someone is found in violation of the declaration, their case will be referred to the district attorney's office.

Parents will also be held accountable for their children if they are found in violation of the state of emergency, and could face fines and possible jail time.

Officials say there are no religious exemptions, and that they have been working with area rabbis who have been encouraging their members to get vaccinated.

According to the emergency declaration, public places are defined as a place where more than 10 persons are intended to congregate for purposes such as civic, governmental, social, or religious functions, or for recreation or shopping, or for food or drink consumption, or awaiting transportation, or for daycare or educational purposes, or for medical treatment.

A place of public assembly shall also include public transportation vehicles, including but not limited to, publicly or privately owned buses or trains, but does not include taxi or livery vehicles.

There are currently 153 confirmed reported cases of measles in the county, according to health officials.

"As this outbreak has continued, our inspectors have begun to meet resistance from those they are trying to protect," Day said. "They have been hung up on or told not to call again. They've been told, 'We're not discussing this, do not come back' when visiting the homes of infected individuals as part of their investigations. This type of response is unacceptable and irresponsible. It endangers the health and well-being of others and displays a shocking lack of responsibility and concern for others in our community”.

Others worried normal people would be demonized.

"I'm very concerned about how people will be viewed and what will happen when people go to the mall and try to go to the Target or wherever they want to go shopping or be out," said Gary Setzer, of the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Rockland County.

Meanwhile, other leaders say the problem is the numbers.

"This community has a boatload of children," said Yossi Gestetner, of the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council. "To give you context, Manhattan, less than 9 percent of the population is under the age of 10. New Square, the Hasidic village, 40 percent."

High-risk groups include pregnant women, children under 6 months of age, the immunocompromised or immunosuppressed, those who have not been vaccinated against the measles, and those who were born before 1957 and are immunosuppressed.

An unenforceable publicity stunt designed to garner support for (unconstitutional) compulsory vaccination. I'm totally pro-vaccines, by the way, but what these people are aiming for is sick and a total violation of people's rights.

An unenforceable publicity stunt designed to garner support for (unconstitutional) compulsory vaccination.

I'm totally pro-vaccines, by the way, but what these people are aiming for is sick and a total violation of people's rights.

Like I've said, I'd always make sure I was vaccinated myself, which is my defense against those who aren't. Everybody's happy.

I could be wrong here, but I think that in the event of an epidemic of a contagious disease, health departments are permitted to enact some restrictions. You (editorially) may have the right not to be vaccinated. But I also have the right to live, work and play in places free from the threat of preventable contagious illnesses.

Not looking to get into a fight; it's just something to think about.

I could be wrong here, but I think that in the event of an epidemic of a contagious disease, health departments are permitted to enact some restrictions. You (editorially) may have the right not to be vaccinated. But I also have the right to live, work and play in places free from the threat of preventable contagious illnesses.

Not looking to get into a fight; it's just something to think about.

I don’t get it . If your vaccinated shouldn’t that’s stop you from getting it from someone who has it? Isn’t that the point of vaccination

An unenforceable publicity stunt designed to garner support for (unconstitutional) compulsory vaccination.

I'm totally pro-vaccines, by the way, but what these people are aiming for is sick and a total violation of people's rights.

It stops you from getting the disease. But...

Not everyone can get vaccinated. People with transplants. People undergoing cancer treatments. People with HIV. Fetuses younger than 3 months.

So being vaccinated is important for your health, but also for the larger community.


Flu vaccine does not work as well as vaccines for DPT and poxes, etc. The flu virus changes quickly and frequently, making formulating vaccines more difficult. That is why you can get the flu, even if you had the injection. Vaccination does lower the incidence, frequency and intensity of flu infections.