NYC Approves Flu Vaccine Mandate, Despite Opposition

(The New American) New York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg is at it again with his nanny-state measures, the latest involving a push for mandatory annual flu vaccines for New York City children under the age of five. Last week, the NYC Board of Health voted in favor of a rule that will force children as young as six months old to be immunized before December 31 if they attend licensed day care programs.

“Young children have a high risk of developing severe complications from influenza. One-third of children under five in New York City do not receive an annual influenza vaccination, even though the vaccine safely and effectively protects them against influenza illness,” the Health Department said in a statement. “This mandate will help protect the health of young children, while reducing the spread of influenza in New York City.”

Under the approved rule, the vaccinations are required “unless the vaccine may be detrimental to the child’s health, as certified by a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state, or the parent, parents, or guardian of a child hold genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to the practices herein required.”

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