Federal Support Offered Amid Measles Emergency in New York

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reached out to New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday, extending an offer for federal assistance in response to the measles emergency she declared just days prior.

According to an HHS spokesperson, Kennedy assured Hochul of the “full support” of both HHS and the CDC while New York tackles the measles outbreak. The spokesperson also noted that Kennedy facilitated a direct connection between Hochul and Erica Schwartz, the CDC director, indicating that both federal teams are prepared to assist the state as needed.

The spokesperson mentioned, “Under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, the CDC has initiated a proactive response to measles outbreaks nationwide. States like Texas, South Carolina, Virginia, Kansas, New Mexico, and Wisconsin have sought CDC Epi-Aids and collaborated with federal teams to effectively manage their outbreaks.” They further stated that if New York requests an Epi-Aid, the CDC is ready to dispatch epidemiologists and experts to cater to the state’s requirements.

In a statement shared, Hochul’s spokesperson, Nicolette Simmonds, emphasized that “no state can tackle this alone, which is why the governor is eager to collaborate with anyone who can bolster our efforts to keep New Yorkers safe,” as reported by Reuters.

Hochul has notably advocated for enhanced vaccination initiatives in New York to combat the disease, as the state reported 108 measles cases as of last Saturday.

In her statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation, Hochul said, “As New York State’s 57th Governor, I look forward to working together to rebuild our communities and continue to advance our great state. I’ve traveled throughout New York over the past seven years and am continually inspired by the resilience, diversity, and strength of our people. I promise to commit every day to facilitating a stronger, safer future for our families and communities while ensuring that government serves as a force for good.”

Hochul’s executive order from Monday, which declared a state of emergency, asserted that the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is the sole reliable method to prevent measles.

The federal government seemed to echo this sentiment, with the HHS spokesperson stating, “Secretary Kennedy and Dr. Schwartz continue to advocate for the MMR vaccine as the most effective measure against measles infection.”

However, reports have emerged indicating that the Amish community is particularly vulnerable to measles due to low vaccination rates. In response, a group of Amish families in upstate New York has filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to protect their religious beliefs, which oppose vaccination.

The petition, filed by First Liberty Institute in collaboration with several law firms, aims to defend the Amish families against a vaccine mandate imposed for schools in 2019. The Amish families have incurred over $118,000 in fines for refusing to vaccinate their children, as stated in an announcement on the legal group’s website on October 2.

Hiram Sasser, Executive General Counsel for First Liberty, expressed his concerns, stating, “Only the government could perceive the Amish as a threat. If New York prevails, the Amish might be compelled to leave the state after peacefully residing there since the 1830s.” Some families may indeed face the prospect of leaving their homes if the Supreme Court denies their appeal, according to the New York Post.