New York’s Rockland County has declared a state of emergency in response to the ongoing measles outbreak, which has reached more than 150 cases of the infection in the county since October 2018.
Effective midnight Tuesday, health officials said anyone under age 18 who was not vaccinated against the disease would be banned from entering public places for a period of 30 days.
No religious exemptions are accepted and anyone found violating the ban is to be referred to the District Attorney’s Office.
“Public places are defined as a place where more than 10 persons are intended to congregate for purposes such as civic, governmental, social, or religious functions, or for recreation or shopping, or for food or drink consumption, or awaiting transportation, or for daycare or educational purposes, or for medical treatment.
“A place of public assembly shall also include public transportation vehicles, including but not limited to, publicly or privately owned buses or trains, but does not include taxi or livery vehicles,” according to the ban.
The Rockland County Department of Health will host a free MMR vaccination clinic from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday on the second floor of Building A, Robert L. Yeager Health Complex, 50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona, NY.
Free MMR vaccines are available by calling:
–The Rockland County Department of Health at 845-364-2497 or 845-364-2520 to schedule an appointment to get a free MMR vaccine at the Pomona health complex.
–The Rockland County Department of Health Spring Valley Family Planning Clinic is also providing MMR vaccines, by appointment to Family Planning patients. Family Planning Clinic patients can call 845-364-2531 to schedule an appointment.
In addition, MMR vaccines are available at local health care providers or by calling a local federally qualified health center.