MEDIA ADVISORY – Demand Action to Remove Non-Medical Exemptions for School Attendance 


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MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100

 

For Immediate Release
May 20, 2019

MEDIA ADVISORY

With Nearly 800 Cases of Measles in New York,
Lawmakers, Physicians, Nurses and Public Health Groups to Demand Action on
Bill to Remove Non-Medical Vaccine Exemptions for School Attendance 

When: Tuesday, May 21st 2:00 pm
Where: Assembly Staircase, 3rd Floor Capitol Bldg. outside Assembly chamber

Speakers at the press conference will be:

  • Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, sponsor of A.2371 and other members of the Assembly Health Committee
  • Senator Brad Hoylman, sponsor of S.2994 and other senators
  • Arthur Fougner, MD, MSSNY President
  • Monica Sweeney, MD, Internal Medicine Physician, Member, MSSNY Infectious Disease Committee
  • Shetal Shah, MD, FAAP, NYS AAP, District II, Vice President of Chapter 2, Chair of the Chapter 2
  • Sarah Ravenhall, MHA, CHES, Executive Director, New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO)
  • Erin E. Jones, Regional Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs, March of Dimes
  • Other supportive organizations representing physicians, nurses and patient/ public health interests 

Why:  According to the State and City Health Departments there were 772 measles cases in New York alone, as of May 14th.  NY State is seeing sharp increases in diagnoses with each week of inaction, and cases have been diagnosed in Brooklyn and six counties outside NYC.

The time for action is now.  Medical experts, together with state legislators and public health organizations, will call for immediate action to address a major barrier to “herd immunity” in order to begin to stem the tide of this highly contagious disease in the state.

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About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

MSSNY Contact:
Pat Clancy
Senior Vice President, Public Health and Education/Managing Director
Medical Society of the State of New York
pclancy@mssny.org 518-465-8085

 

 

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