New York Bans Non-Vaccinated Minors from Public Places

The debate over mandatory vaccinations in America has never been more mainstream, and officials in New York are taking notice.

Given the very personal nature of the vaccine debate, made especially precious due to the fact that we are almost always speaking about children during these discussion, tempers tend to flare fairly easily on the subject.  These fights, which often occur over social media channels, have spawned any number of organizations, movements, websites, documentaries, and fundraising groups, adding an air of inescapability to the proceedings.

Everywhere we turn, this debate rages on.

Now, amid a measles outbreak, one county in New York State has issued a declaration of emergency banning any non-vaccinated children under the age of 18 from public places.

Effective at the stroke of midnight, Wednesday, anyone who is under 18 years of age and unvaccinated against the measles will be barred from public places until this declaration expires in 30 days or until they receive the MMR vaccination.

Those unable to be vaccinated for documented and confirmed medical reasons are exempt from the declaration.

During a Tuesday press conference, Rockland County Executive Ed Day said the county entered its 26th week of the measles outbreak.

Day went on to say that this may be the only situation of its kind in the United States at this time.

The county is currently suffering from over twelve dozen confirmed cases of the disease.

Anyone found in violation of the public places ban could face up to $500 in fines and six months in jail.