Nearly 80 percent of New Yorkers in a new poll said vaccinations should be required for kids before they can go to school, regardless of family religious beliefs.
Support for required vaccinations is strong among Democrats, Republicans and independents, according to the latest Siena College poll. Over 75 percent of Republicans, 86 percent of Democrats and 70 percent of independents were in favor.
The latest poll was conducted earlier in March through telephone calls to 700 registered voters in New York. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
Vaccine exemptions for kids in school have made headlines in recent months as several parts of the country battle measles outbreaks.
Ohio teen tells U.S. Senate why he defied his mom and got vaccinated Ethan Lindenberger said his mother was steeped in online conspiracies
Rockland County outside New York City has been dealing with a measles outbreak since last year. So far, the outbreak includes 147 confirmed cases.
The outbreaks have pushed some officials to take a second look at religious exemptions for vaccines. A new bill in the New York Legislature would allow minors to get vaccinated even if their parents object.
Others in states including Texas have been looking to make vaccine exemptions even easier to obtain.
Measles was largely eliminated in the U.S. after the vaccine was introduced in the 1960s, but some health officials are concerned about potential resurgence given growing opposition to vaccines among some.
Court rules against WNY mom who sought religious exemption from vaccines Marina Williams sought a religious exemption from vaccine requirements for her daughters.
The Siena poll also found broad support for making New York's property tax cap permanent.
"Making permanent the property tax cap has strong support from every party and every region," Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said in a news release.
Sixty percent of Republicans and independents favor a permanent cap as do 58 percent of Democrats, the poll found.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said a permanent tax cap is a must for this year's budget and the state Senate already passed a bill on the issue.
The Assembly has yet to act.
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N0ob_C3nTR4L on March 19th, 2019 at 03:27 UTC »
time to sort by controversial
joeyinc on March 19th, 2019 at 02:39 UTC »
I've been a religious person all my life. Whenever someone in the community tells me that they're getting a religious exemption, I always ask them: from what religion? I wish they would use another excuse. Don't lump me in with your bulls*it.
wwarnout on March 18th, 2019 at 22:41 UTC »
As they should. Anti-vaxxers are a threat to public health, and should be banned from all public places.
Also, "religious beliefs/freedom" should never give anyone the right to infringe the rights of others.