by Ava Franks
Recently, there has been a measles outbreak in the Hudson Valley, leading neighboring Rockland County officials to declare a state of emergency that bars children and teenagers who are not vaccinated from public places.
In April, Irvington schools superintendent Kristopher Harrison sent an email regarding the issue and the most recent outbreaks. According to the email, the number of measles cases in Rockland County is over 180 and over 300 in New York City, and there have been eight cases of infected children in Northern Westchester County.
This outbreak has raised even more awareness about the importance of the vaccination for measles, mumps, and rubella, and the Health Department has been offering free Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccinations at various special clinics.
However, according to the New York Times, anti-vaccination groups assembled in Monsey this week for what they called a “vaccine symposium” but which health officials decried as “propaganda that could cause the outbreak to deepen, risking the health of countless people.”
“[Anti-vaccination groups] are doubling down and increasing their messaging — capitalizing on fear,” Dr. Jane Zucker, the assistant commissioner of immunization for the New York City health department, said in an interview with the Times. “Parents are afraid of who and what to believe.”
