New York eliminates religious exemptions for vaccines

June 14 (UPI) -- New York eliminated religious exemptions from school vaccination requirements amid the state's worst measles outbreak in 25 years.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the legislation into law Thursday that ends non-medical exemptions from mandatory vaccinations for school children.

"The science is crystal clear: Vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to keep our children safe," he said in a statement. "This administration has taken aggressive action to contain the measles outbreak, but given its scale, additional steps are needed to end this public health crisis."

The move comes as the state has been battling a measles outbreak with more than 800 cases recorded since September, with the majority of the cases being reported in the Orthodox Jewish communities of Brooklyn and Rockland County.

Read mmore: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/06/14/New-York-eliminates-religious-exemptions-for-vaccines/6061560497018/