(CNN) – New York is ending religious exemptions for required vaccines.
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill Thursday and it took effect immediately.
The new mandate comes after the recent outbreak in measles in new york and across the United States.
Many lawmakers supported the measure, but some were skeptical.
“It seems like when we eradicated the measles in 2000 we also eradicated the memory of the measles and forgot how deadly this disease can be. So I’m grateful that we’re passing this legislation. It’s taken long enough but we have to make sure that measles does not claim a foothold in the United States because it will wreak havoc,” said David Carlucci, a Democrat representing the 38th District.
“This issue of religious exemption deals with some 24,000 people in the state of New York. It has absolutely nothing to do with the problems that we’re facing in New York with a number of people having measles,” said Tom Abinanti, a Democrat representing the 92nd Assembly District.
Several critics of the bill protested in the gallery outside of the floor.
They said the getting rid of the religious exemption violates of the most basic principles of the United States of America.