Board of Health unanimously votes to extend MMR vaccine requirement

The city’s Board of Health voted unanimously Wednesday to extend the resolution that would require adults and children living in Williamsburg to receive the MMR vaccine.

News 12 Staff

Apr 17, 2019, 10:07 AM

Updated 2,056 days ago

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A unanimous vote by the New York City Board of Health has extended a resolution that requires adults and children in Williamsburg to be vaccinated against the measles.
The vote extended the emergency measure already in place, which resulted in 102 schools and child care facilities receiving commissioner’s orders to exclude non-vaccinated students or face violations and possible closure.
Last Tuesday, the New York City Health Department ordered that every adult and child who live in ZIP codes 11249, 11211, 11206 and 11205 get the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine.
Since then, the preschool program at the United Talmudical Academy was forced to close Monday after the health department says it refused to disclose medical and attendance records.
Measles was completely eradicated in New York City in 2000, but now 326 people in Brooklyn have the viral infection. It includes 25 hospitalizations and six people in intensive care. The city says the cases have mostly involved children between the ages of 1 and 4 years old in the Orthodox Jewish community.
The order is part of the declared public health emergency. Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Bardot says she's hopeful it will help eradicate the measles again.
On Thursday morning, a lawyer will be in court to argue against the order. As of now, it remains in effect.