ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York health officials have issued emergency regulations restricting medical exemptions from vaccination for children attending school or child care.
The increased scrutiny of medical exemptions was announced Friday and follows the elimination of religious exemptions. The new regulations aim to keep people from obtaining medical exemptions for non-medical reasons.
The Department of Health says doctors who issue medical exemptions will now be required to complete a state form specifically outlining medical reasons preventing a child from receiving each required vaccine.
Amid the nation's worst measles outbreak in decades, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June signed a law ending all non-medical exemptions for vaccines required for children to attend school in the state.
The Centers for Disease Control has counted nearly 1,200 cases of measles in 30 states this year.
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