Opinion: How to fight measles outbreaks in NY

Anxiety is spreading across the country as measles, once nearly eradicated in the United States, makes a striking return. The virus, highly contagious and perilous for children, has now reached New York, with several cases reported in Orange County. Three children under the age of five are currently battling the disease. Many of our communities are now on high alert, and for good reason: measles rapidly snowballs, especially within communities suffering from vaccination coverage gaps.

Since May 1 alone, a record-breaking 935 cases have been confirmed nationally. While many of these stem from localized outbreaks, the question remains: Why has an outbreak emerged so rapidly?

The answer is as infuriating as it is simple – misinformation.

Baseless conspiracy theories claiming vaccines are “trackers,” that they cause neurological disorders or that they are unnecessary if others are vaccinated are putting lives at risk. These myths, perpetuated online and even echoed in some public forums, are convincing people to forgo routine vaccinations. The consequences of this collective negligence are now unfolding in real time.

At the federal level, figures like U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. have fueled vaccine skepticism with dangerous rhetoric, making outbreaks like these more likely as misinformation spreads unchecked across state lines and erodes public trust in science.

Sadly, we’ve been down this road before. In 2019, New York was the epicenter of a measles outbreak with over 1,000 people sickened across the state, the vast majority of them children. The legislature responded swiftly and passed a new law tightening the vaccine requirements for school children. The public health crisis was averted and nobody died.

However, we might not be so fortunate this time. When vaccination rates drop, entire communities become vulnerable. Herd immunity only works when enough people participate. It’s not just about protecting yourself – it’s about protecting those who can’t be vaccinated, like infants and those with compromised immune systems.

New York must take action to protect its residents in the face of federal negligence. In the final weeks of the legislative session, we have an opportunity to advance bills that would make our state better immunized and, in the process, healthier and safer. The state Legislature has taken the lead on bold, pro-vaccine legislation before when the stakes were not nearly so high. Now is the time to be bold again – we owe it to our neighbors, children and communities.