New York repeals religious exemption to vaccine requirements for students

With measles cases in the U.S. at their highest level in 27 years, New York's Senate and Assembly voted on Thursday to end the religious exemption to vaccine requirements for schoolchildren.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has signed the measure into law. State Sen. Brad Hoylman (D), the sponsor of the legislation, said the country is "facing an unprecedented public health crisis," and it was time for lawmakers to confront "the atrocious peddlers of junk science and fraudulent medicine" who have "spent years sowing unwarranted doubt and fear" about vaccines. There have been more than 1,000 measles cases this year, with many in New York in Orthodox Jewish communities.

Protesters gathered outside of New York's Capitol before the vote, calling on the lawmakers to keep the waiver. There was no sympathy from Assemblywoman Deborah Glick (D), who told The Associated Press "personal opinions, which may be based on junk science, do not trump the greater good." While the religious exemption is over, the law does not affect children who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons.

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