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New York County Bans Unvaccinated Kids From Public Places

New York County Bans Unvaccinated Kids From Public Places

They won't be allowed to go to school, places of worship or shopping centres until they get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Places around the world have started taking preventative measures to ensure that unvaccinated people don't make the rest of us sick.

One New York suburb has contributed to that campaign by banning unvaccinated kids from public places like schools, places of worship and shopping centres.

PA

Rockland County has taken the unprecedented move as the state of New York and others grapple with an outbreak of measles.

The county declared a state of emergency, according to Reuters, meaning kids who haven't got the necessary shots will be banned from those areas for up to 30 days or until they get the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.

County Executive Ed Day said in a statement: "We will not sit idly by while children in our community are at risk. This is a public health crisis, and it is time to sound the alarm."

In Rockland County alone, there have been a whopping 153 cases of measles.

Day continued: "Our inspectors have begun to meet resistance from those they are trying to protect.

"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 wellbeing of others and displays a shocking lack of responsibility and concern for others in our community.

"This is an opportunity for everyone in their community to do the right thing.

PA

"We must do everything in our power to end this outbreak and protect the health of those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and for the children too young to be vaccinated."

One of the tough parts about this ban is working out how to actually implement it. How would you know the kid you're walking past at the shopping centre is vaccinated or not? Will unvaccinated people have to start wearing badges?

It's a step further than Italy, which recently announced a ban on children being allowed to go to school if they hadn't had the necessary shots.

The new laws mean that parents are now putting themselves at risk of being fined up to €500 (£432/$564) if they do send their child to school unvaccinated.

The new legislation was introduced following a surge in measles cases - now officials in Italy say that the vaccination rates have improved since it was brought into action. Well, you'd hope so, given your child's education has been put on the line.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: America, News, vaccine