A STATE SUPREME COURT JUDGE HAS
DENIED AN ORDER TO ALLOW
UNVACCINATED KIDS TO GO TO
SCHOOL.
THIS COMES AFTER THE FAMILIES --
WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD RELIGIOUS
EXEMPTIONS -- SUED EARLIER THIS
SUMMER.
NEWS 4'S SHANNON SMITH BREAKS
DOWN THE JUDGE'S DECISION --
SHANNON?
THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING DEBATE
-- AFTER THE STATE LEGISLATURE
REPEALED THE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION
BACK IN JUNE.
THAT WAS AFTER THE NATIONWIDE
MEASLES OUTBREAK.
BUT A SUPREME COURT JUDGE UPHELD
THE STATE LAW IN A RULING
FRIDAY.
FAMILIES HAVE ARGUED THAT
REPEALING THE EXEMPTION WAS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT
VIOLATED THEIR RIGHTS OF
RELIGIOUS
EXPRESSION.
THAT EXEMPTION ALLOWED CHILDREN
TO GO TO SCHOOL OR DAYCARE
CENTERS WITHOUT A VACCINATION
CITING RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
A SUPREME COURT JUDGE UPHELD THE
LAW -- CITING LEGAL PRECEDENT
VACCINATION LAWS -- INCLUDING A
SUPREME COURT RULING IN 1944
WHICH
SAID THE RIGHT TO PRACTICE
RELIGION DOESN'T INCLUDE LIBERTY
TO EXPOSE
THE COMMUNITY TO DISEASE.
JUST LAST WEEK -- PARENTS
PROTESTED OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL
WHILE AWAITING THE
DECISON.
((IT'S REALLY UNFAIR HOW QUICKLY
EVERYTHING
TURNED ABOUT, GIVING THE PARENTS
NO CHANCE OR THOUGHT PROCESS OF
WHAT TO DO.))
SOME PARENTS SAY THEY MAY HAVE
TO HOME SCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN.
NEW YORK IS THE FIFTH STATE TO
BAN RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS FOR
VACCINATIONS.
ACCORDING TO A POLL BY THE SIENA
COLLEGE RESEARCH INSTITUTE -- 84
PERCENT OF NEW YORKERS WERE IN
FAVOR OF ENDING THE EXEMPTION.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS
ALREADY ROLLED OUT ITS NEW
VACCINE
REQUIREMENTS AHEAD OF THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
THE STATE LAW STILL ALLOWS
VACCINATION EXEMPTIONS FOR
MEDICAL REASONS
SUCH AS A WEAKENED IMMUNE
SYSTEM.
CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER MICHAEL
SUSSMAN SAYS THE COURTS DECISION
