One June 28, The State of New York Court of Appeals ruled that New York City has the authority to mandate flu vaccinations for children attending city-regulated childcare or school-based programs, according to Precision Vaccinations.
The unanimous decision will help “protect more than 150,000 children in city-regulated daycares and preschools across the city,” according to Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, M.D., M.P.H.
Public Health Law 2164 requires that every child between the age of 2 months and 18 years must be vaccinated against certain enumerated diseases. Without proof of vaccinations, the Public Health Law prohibits officials in charge of any school, day care, or nursery within New York from allowing the child to attend for more than 14 days.
An exception to the law, however, permits admission of an unvaccinated child into a school-based program if a physician certifies that immunization could be detrimental to the child’s health or if the child’s parent or guardian has sincere religious beliefs against it.
For a comprehensive list of NYC Immunization and Health Clinics, please visit nyc.gov.
