“We must do everything in our power to put an end to this epidemic and protect the health of those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons or children too young to be vaccinated”, says Ed Day, Chief of Rockland County (United States) Quoted by South West. Since October, this suburb 40 kilometers from New York has been affected by a measles epidemic, with 153 reported cases.
In an attempt to contain the disease, the county chief made a radical decision on Tuesday March 26: since midnight local time and for 30 days, the under 18 unvaccinated are banned from public places that can gather more than 10 people, such as shopping centers, restaurants, schools, places of worship or public transport. Signs will be installed to explain the state of emergency and this ban.
Opposition to vaccination
Despite several intensive vaccination campaigns since the start of the epidemic in October – introduced in the county by seven travelers affected by the pathology – 27.1% of minors are still not vaccinated. “These figures say a lot about the reasons why the epidemic continues”, continues the director. Immunity is however effective once the rate reaches 95%. It is therefore for the moment only 72.9%, according to figures from New York State.
Young people are the first to be affected by the disease. Of the 153 people who contracted it, 128 were under 18. The most affected neighborhoods are places with a large ultra-Orthodox Jewish population, as there are many opponents of vaccination there. To go to school, many vaccines are however compulsory in the United States. But the State of New York is one of the 47 regions which authorize exemptions, in particular for “religious” reasons, relays South West.
The rule of law to urge vaccine
Failure to comply with the Rockland County measure could result in six months in jail or a fine of $ 500. “Parents will be held responsible if they find themselves in violation of the state of emergency, says its director, Quoted by The Journal News. We urge them, once again, now with the rule of law, to immunize your children. “
In the United States, numerous outbreaks of measles reappeared in several regions following the anti-vaccine movements. Thus, Ed Day deplores the “Growing resistance” of residents facing health officials, who try to protect them. There is currently no treatment for measles. It can cause respiratory complications (pneumopathies), neurological complications (meningoencephalitis), and can thus lead to death. The only protection remains the vaccine.
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