New York City has issued a public health emergency, saying that kids who remain unvaccinated, could be fined up to $1000.
In cities around Williamsburg and Brooklyn, New York, kids MUST be vaccinated for measles or have proof of immunity. In 2017, there were only 2 cases of measles. In 2018, it went up to 56. This year, in 2019, so far, 229 people have been sick. Parents have been asked to vaccinate their babies starting at 6 months.
Paul Offit, professor of pediatrics and director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia said, "That's no party. It's always the children, and the weakest among us, who have to suffer our ignorance."
Some are choosing not to vaccinate for religious reasons, but the Orthodox Jewish community has been targeted by anti-vaxxers.
Back in the day, people would have chicken pox parties to expose their kids to build immunity, but officials are saying they can't do that with something that is five times more likely to kill children than chicken pox.