BY MATT LINDSEY

North Country This Week

NORWOOD — Two families at Norwood-Norfolk Central are impacted by a new law ending the religious exemption for students who are not vaccinated.

“We have five children from two families who are affected by this change in legislation,” said NNCS Superintendent Jamie Cruikshank. “I have sent them letters but have not heard from either family.”

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation last month removing non-medical exemptions from school vaccination requirements for children.

The United States is experiencing the worst outbreak of measles in more than 25 years, with outbreaks in pockets of New York primarily driving the crisis, according to the Department of Public Health.

“It's our desire to help families through the immunization process,” Cruikshank said. “Parents can contact the school to speak with one of our nurses, contact public health, or call their physician for support.”

As of June 13, there is no longer a religious exemption to the requirement that children be vaccinated against measles and other diseases to attend public, private or parochial school or child day care settings.

The new law does not affect valid medical exemptions, DOH said.

Children must have received the first age appropriate dose in each immunization series by June 28, to attend summer school or remain in daycare, DOH said. Also, by July 14, parents and guardians of the children must have shown that they have made appointments for all required follow-up doses. The deadlines for follow-up doses depend on the vaccine.

The deadline for obtaining first dose vaccinations for children attending school this fall is 14 days from the first day of school, which would be the middle of August. Within 30 days of the first day of school, parents and guardians of such children must show that they have made appointments for all required follow-up doses.