New York Officials Ban Unvaccinated Children From All Public Areas – Parents Will Be Arrested Or Fined $500

Apr 02, 2019 by apost team

In today's media-driven society, we learn more about public safety in the news than ever. At the touch of a finger, we can learn what to be aware of and what's currently going on with the health status of our country. Vaccinations have been debated upon in the news as of recently, and it's a hot topic with a lot of different takes and opinions attached to it. As the world reads news about the recent measles outbreaks that are threatening many different areas of the United States, a county in New York is starting to take action. Rockland County, which is located alongside the Hudson River, made a drastic decision when they decided to ban unvaccinated children from public areas. 

The announcement for the ban was made last Tuesday by the director of strategic communications, John Lyon. The ban tries not to punish anyone who is already doing the correct thing. The ban aims to prevent any more cases of the measles and stop the outbreak from spreading. This new ruling is so unusual and unheard of that this seems to be the first ban of its type in the entire country. However, Lyon and other officials seem to believe that this was the only choice they had left to help the general public safety in such dire circumstances.

Rockland County’s measles outbreak is the most severe in the entire country. The outbreak began in October and has continued for six entire months, the longest outbreak for the United States on record since the year 2000. In just six months, 153 cases of the measles have been counted.

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But how can this ban exist? In a state of emergency or outbreak, the state law allows for health departments to implement authority in order to control these types of situations. According to John Lyon, this ban will be taken seriously as any other law. Unvaccinated children are not allowed into public spaces, strictly defined as areas where 10 or more people are congregating. This means that shopping malls, churches, playgrounds, and even the schooling system are unavailable and inaccessible to those under 18 that haven’t gotten vaccinations due to their risk to the public.

However, this ban won’t last forever. The ban is set to last for 30 days before it expires. The rules also only include those who are not vaccinated for mumps, measles, and rubella. But what about children that cannot receive vaccinations? The ban does not include children who have started to get their vaccinations but haven’t completed due to young age. Children who have medical exemptions that have been documented by their doctor are also exempt from the rules.

This ban comes just a week after a New York judge ruled that 42 unvaccinated kids were not allowed to return to their public school in Rockland County. The children were kept away from attending school at Green Meadow Waldorf School for many months because of the concern around the measles outbreak. Although it was a difficult decision, the judge ruled in favor of public safety. This ruling from the judge as well as the ban is being met with public criticism as well as praise. The controversial decisions are made, however, because the local governments are more interested in the nature of public safety above all else.

As previously mentioned, these public space bans are meant to be taken seriously. The laws around them will be enforced just as any other would be, and the consequences for breaking the rules will be significant. Parents that are found violating the ban can face up to six months in jail and even a fine of $500. However, officials are hoping that it doesn’t come to these extreme circumstances.

For those who don’t know much about measles, it’s important to realize that this condition is highly contagious and can even be life-threatening. Before the vaccine was created, measles even caused the premature deaths of 400-500 United States citizens each year. The disease can be spread by airborne particles, contact of respiratory secretions, and droplets. It is especially risky for immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and young kids. The first warning signs begin with a rash or fever that spreads throughout the body.

The ban is in place partly to grab the attention of parents in the area. Parents and those living in the county need to realize how dire the situation is. In Rockland County, around 25% of children under 18 are not vaccinated, so this ban may affect many families. Officials are hoping that those with unvaccinated children debate the risks and consequences of sending them into public spaces while the outbreak is happening. 

Do you think it's the right decision to ban unvaccinated children from public areas? What are your personal feelings about vaccinations? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this story along to let others join the discussion!