New York – Some Brooklyn residents are reacting to New York City’s public health emergency declaration and mandatory vaccinations order over a measles outbreak centered in the Williamsburg Jewish community.
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News of the order got a mixed reaction in Williamsburg, with some residents — even those who support vaccination — saying they felt uncomfortable with the city pushing vaccines on people who don’t want them. Others remain convinced, against expert assurances, that vaccines are unsafe.
“It’s true that a lot of people have measles and measles are not a very good thing, but I think the vaccine also not a very good thing,” said Aron Braver, a neighborhood resident. “And it’s everybody’s option to do what he wants. What he decides.”
“I was glad that they got it the way God intended them to get it,” said Esther, 25, an Orthodox Jewish mother of three.
She also said she’d be willing to pay the $1,000 fine the city has threatened to impose on any Williamsburg residents who refuse to get vaccinated, according to the NYPost.
Her pal Gitty, 28, who’s also an Orthodox Jew, said, “I don’t think it’s up to the city to mandate such things.”
“God created all humans perfectly. My children are perfect and beautiful,” the mother of five said, the Post reported.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the unusual order amid what he said was a measles crisis in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg section, where more than 250 people have gotten measles since September. Officials blamed the outbreak on “anti-vaxxers” spreading false information.
The order applies to anyone living, working or going to school in four ZIP codes in the neighborhood and requires all unvaccinated people at risk of exposure to the virus to get the vaccine, including children over 6 months old.
The city can’t physically force someone to get a vaccination, but officials said people who ignore the order could be fined $1,000. The city said it would help everyone covered by the order get the vaccine if they can’t get it quickly through their regular medical provider.
“If people will simply cooperate quickly, nobody will have to pay a fine,” de Blasio said.
Officials say 285 measles cases have been confirmed in New York City since the beginning of the outbreak, the largest in the city since 1991. New York City accounted for about two-thirds of all U.S. measles cases reported last week.
Ordering people to be vaccinated without their consent is “an extreme measure which is not provided for in the law and raises civil liberties concerns about forced medical treatment,” Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a written statement.
The majority of religious leaders in Brooklyn’s large Orthodox communities support vaccination efforts, said the city’s health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, but rates have remained low in some areas because of resistance from some groups that believe the inoculations are dangerous.
“This outbreak is being fueled by a small group of anti-vaxxers in these neighborhoods. They have been spreading dangerous misinformation based on fake science,” Barbot said. “We stand with the majority of people in this community who have worked hard to protect their children and those at risk. We’ve seen a large increase in the number of people vaccinated in these neighborhoods.”
Officials also noted that Passover is approaching, meaning increased travel among people who could carry measles to or from New York. Israel, for instance, also has a current measles outbreak.
The commissioner is empowered by law to issue such orders in cases when they might be necessary to protect against a serious public health threat.
Earlier this week, the city ordered religious schools and day care programs serving that community to exclude unvaccinated students or risk being closed down.
Rabbi David Oberlander, director of the Yeshiva Kehilath Yakov School, where there were 20 measles cases, said “maybe 3%” of the students were unvaccinated.
“However, we worked very hard, as the health department told us, and those children were excluded,” he said.
Another Jewish religious community, north of the city but with close ties to Brooklyn, has also seen a surge, with at least 166 cases since October. Last week, a state judge blocked an attempt by Rockland County officials to halt the spread of measles by banning unvaccinated children from public places.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children get two doses of measles vaccine. It says the vaccine is 97% effective.
When a parent who believes the anti-vax hogwash refuses to vaccinate their child, there is a debate about whether one can remove the child from their custody. But the requirement for public health to ban them from being a potential spreader of a disease is the governments responsibility. I detest our mayor, and wish he would be replaced yesterday. But this is a correct call, albeit bitter for those afflicted with the anti-vax obsession.
The anti-vaxers have been BRAINWASHED by a couple of idiots ! What are they trying to sell you some natural vitamins ??? It all boils down to money !
As an ultra orthodox Williamsburg resident I hereby declare that these people’s acts are senseless. We are all outraged at the chutzpah of theses individuals. The majority of Williamsburg does NOT reflect these values that is bringing upon us a despicable chilul Hashem.
It has NOTHING to do with religion. NONE whatsoever. Any sane person can attest to it. These people are spreading unneeded diseases for fear and paranoia. They shld all move to an isolated neighborhood and not put us all at risk of contracting the disease.
There are the sick and expecting women that are not immune to measles and these people have a responsibility to the klal too besides feeding their own beliefs based on NO DATA.
Filthy Hassids who refuse to vaccinate kill cancer patients whose immune systems are compromised. (That’s not anti-semitic because I only said bad about the murdering ones.)
Yoysh !!!
It’s unbelievable how ignorant some in our community can be. Such a Chilul Hashem!
I know someone who had a serious health issue, but some energy lady in Williamsburg told them it’s nothing just take these homeopathic garbage and you’ll be fine. The family literally had to stage an intervention so he would seek medical attention and his life was saved.
These farbistener ignorant satmar Frauen make me laugh. I just don’t understand why Dr. Adler lowered himself to talk to them. You don’t debate viewpoints that have no validity. Frum don’t debate conservative lehavdil and facts don’t debate ignorant beliefs in nothing.
These people who don’t vaccinate should be treated like the Torah tells us to treat people with צרעת.
The people with צרעת nebbich couldn’t help it.
For these idiots, there’s a solution.
I’m not a fan of DeBlasio, but in this case he’s acting like a mayor concerned with the welfare of the citizens.
There is nothing more glorious than a mother bear protecting her club. They are fulfilling their duty under G-d. You have our respect.