Since September of last year, more than 250 measles cases have been documented in Williamsburg, and today New York City declared a public health emergency mandating that all residents receive a measles vaccination or face a fine.The outbreak is centered in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities of Williamsburg and Borough Park.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in a press conference today that unvaccinated children living in zip codes 11205, 11206, 11221, and 11249 can not attend school or daycare and parents face $1,000 fines if their kids continue to go unvaccinated.
We are declaring a public health emergency in Williamsburg due to the 300 cases of measles reported in our city — primarily concentrated in Brooklyn.
There’s no room for misinformation when it comes to protecting our children. Vaccines are safe and effective. They work. pic.twitter.com/0SQtaG8aEU
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 9, 2019
During the press conference, it was revealed that some parents are exposing their children to the virus at measles parties to test out their immunization to the virus. Watch the full press conference here: