# Amish families push to undo vaccine law as measles outbreak hits > Amish families sued New York over vaccine mandates after measles outbreak, seeking Supreme Court intervention. - Title: Amish families push to undo vaccine law as measles outbreak… - Summary: Amish families sued New York over vaccine mandates after measles outbreak, seeking Supreme Court intervention. Amish families in New York sued to keep… - Keywords: amish, measles, vaccine, new york, supreme court, religious exemptions, school immunization, measles outbreak, health emergency, new york state health department, news, local - Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/amish-families-pushed-to-undo-a-vaccine-law-then-measles-arrived - Read time: 1 min - Topics: amish, measles, vaccine, new york, supreme court, religious exemptions, school immunization, measles outbreak, health emergency, new york state health department, news, local ## Amish schools challenge vaccine law Amish families say New York’s immunization rules threaten their religious freedom and way of life. > The dispute: whether students must be vaccinated ## Amish petition Supreme Court Amish filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to force New York to grant religious exemptions to immunization rules. > In a petition filed Sept. 28, the Amish asked the U.S. Supreme Court to force New York to grant religious exemptions to immunization rules ## Measles outbreak begins A wave of measles cases swept through Amish communities, prompting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to declare a statewide health emergency. > New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a statewide health emergency this month after more than 100 people fell ill with measles ## Health officials' stance Health officials acknowledged most measles cases in upstate New York were clustered within Plain communities. > One county health official, Dr. Kevin Watkins of Cattaraugus County, confirmed during a county health board meeting that most cases in upstate New York were clustered "within Plain communities" ## Amish community size More than 20,000 Amish residents live across upstate New York, from the westernmost corner to the North Country region. > More than 20,000 Amish residents live across upstate New York, from the westernmost corner to the North Country region ## Vaccine exemption history Amish families had religious exemptions to New York’s school immunization requirements for years. > For years, many Amish children had religious exemptions to New York’s school immunization requirements ## 2019 vaccine law change In 2019, New York eliminated religious exemptions after schools became a major transmission site during a measles outbreak. > In 2019, schools emerged as a major locus of transmission during a measles outbreak in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities ## School compliance issues Health inspectors found only one of 24 children at one school had required vaccination paperwork. > When inspectors arrived at one schoolhouse, only one of 24 children had the required vaccination paperwork on file ## Amish legal declaration Over 20 Amish and Mennonite parents signed a declaration pleading with New York to allow religious exemptions. > More than two dozen Amish and Mennonite parents had signed a declaration, beseeching the state to let them run their schools without interference ## Fines and consequences Amish schools faced fines up to $2,000 per student for noncompliance with vaccination rules. > The inspections led to hefty fines, as much as $2,000 per student, a huge sum for one-room schoolhouses that receive no public funding ## Supreme Court case Amish families asked the Supreme Court to intervene after losing twice in federal courts. > After suffering another adverse ruling in June, the Amish have now again asked the Supreme Court to intervene ## Supreme Court decision The Supreme Court accepted the Amish case, with legal experts predicting a likely intervention. > The Supreme Court accepts only a small fraction of appeals, but there is a much stronger chance it will take up this case, given its prior order ## Amish leadership stance Amish leaders warn that some families might leave New York if vaccine laws are not changed. > If the Amish were to lose, he warned that some might depart in search of greater religious freedom elsewhere ## Key takeaway Amish families in New York sued to keep religious exemptions from vaccine laws after measles cases surged, risking fines and school closures.