New York mandates vaccine to contain Brooklyn measles outbreak

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a public health emergency in parts of Brooklyn on Tuesday, ordering all residents to be vaccinated to contain a measles outbreak concentrated in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

The order concerns all people living or working in four zip codes of Williamsburg, northwest Brooklyn, where some residents oppose vaccines on religious grounds -- although neither Jewish texts, nor local Jewish authorities advise against vaccination.

"It was time to take a more muscular approach," De Blasio told a news conference as the emergency measures were announced.

"This can be turned around quickly," he said. "We can stop this."
"There's no question that vaccines are safe, effective and life-saving."