Parents protest bills eliminating religious exemption for vaccines

Some parents on Friday rallied against proposed bills in Albany that would eliminate religious exemptions for vaccines.

News 12 Staff

Apr 5, 2019, 10:14 PM

Updated 1,841 days ago

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Some parents on Friday rallied against proposed bills in Albany that would eliminate religious exemptions for vaccines.
Angry protesters descended on a news conference in East Meadow held by state Sen. Kevin Thomas regarding roadways. They were fuming over three bills co-sponsored by Thomas and other lawmakers that would drop an exemption from vaccinations due to religious beliefs.
Once the protesters showed up, the senator packed up and tried to leave, but they surrounded his car and demanded that he speak with them. Nassau County police eventually arrived on scene.
Before the protesters arrived, Thomas told News 12 that he supports the three bills that would eliminate exemption from vaccinations due to religious beliefs, require preschoolers and children in day care to get flu shots and permit children 14 years or older to get any vaccine required to attend school without parental consent.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and most medical professionals say childhood vaccinations are safe.
Protester John Gilmore say he and others have children who were injured by vaccines.
Other parents say they just want the right to choose.
The bills proposed will not force parents to vaccinate their children. But if they want their child to attend a public, private or parochial school in New York, the child must receive required vaccines.


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