Medical Society Applauds Decision Protecting Public Health by Upholding Law Providing for Vaccination Requirements 

Media Alert BannerFor Immediate Release
March 19, 2021  

Medical Society Applauds Decision Protecting Public Health by Upholding Law Providing for Vaccination Requirements


NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division Third Judicial Department
 Affirms Dismissal of Challenge to the NYS Law Ensuring Only Medical Contraindication Exemptions for Vaccinations

Statement Attributable to:
Bonnie Litvack, MD
President
Medical Society of the State of New York

“The Medical Society of the State of New York applauds the decision of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department affirming the dismissal of the challenge to the law passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor to eliminate religious exemptions for state vaccination requirements.

“This court decision is an important victory for public health.  As we are seeing in the current COVID pandemic, vaccinations are an absolutely essential component to combatting communicable diseases.  Physicians across the State will continue to work on the front lines to ensure they protect their patients’ health, and make sure the public is educated about the importance of vaccinations in protecting everyone’s health.

“The Medical Society of the State of New York, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the New York State American Academy of Pediatrics participated as amici curiae in the litigation in support of New York State and the law, and offered their conclusion that having medical exemptions only was in the best interest of public health.  This brief is cited several times in the decision.

“In 2019, as the measles outbreak was exceeding record levels, the Medical Society led the fight to advocate for ensuring that medical contraindications were the only permitted exception to otherwise applicable vaccination requirements.  MSSNY was joined by a diverse array of 46 public health and patient advocacy organizations in this effort.”

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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. 


Media Contact:
Roseann Raia

Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302 
rraia@mssny.org