WASHINGTONVILLE – State Senator James Skoufis (D, Woodbury) was met on Tuesday by anti-vaccination protesters as he was about to hold one of his “Skoufis on the Streets” sessions in Washingtonville.
In the recently concluded state legislative session, Skoufis supported a repeal on religious exemptions for vaccinations. That issue came to the forefront because of the measles outbreak and some parents refusing to have their children vaccinated.
Skoufis debated the issue with the protesters outside Betty’s Country Kitchen in Washingtonville.
“Immunization only works when all, or nearly all, people receive vaccinations. The science is very clear on this.” His testimony was not received well by the protesters, and they did not attend the meeting itself.
During the meet and greet session, Skoufis spoke to his constituents regarding the vaccination repeal, among other issues. “The matter of fact is that people have their own personal faith and beliefs,” Skoufis said. “But in terms of organized structural religion, there are no organized religions, that I’m aware of, that condemn vaccines or immunizations.”
He also added that anti-vaxxers are against the repeal because they believe it infringes on religious freedom. However, Skoufis believes that those religious freedoms cross the line when it puts society at risk, referring to measles.
Other bills Skoufis supported were tax cuts directed at households with a combined income of $300,000 or less, as well as Washingtonville having full-day kindergarten. He also mentioned there will be a cap on the amount of money that can be donated to New York State politicians, and forensic audits are being made on the MTA for the first time ever.
Washingtonville Mayor Joseph Bucco was in attendance. He supports mandatory vaccinations and believes that straying away from them could jeopardize people’s health.
