Rachel Silberstein is reporting for the Times Union hundreds of protesters gathered September 9 outside the state Education Department in Albany to push the state Board of Regents to delay implementation of the new state law ending religious exemptions to school vaccination requirements. Under legislation that went into effect in June, parents have 14 days from the start of the school year to prove their child is vaccinated, or the student must withdraw from classes. "There's a sense of desperation," said Maureen Chapey of Long Island, who has three children in public school and opposes the shots on spiritual grounds. "We don't know what's going to happen to our kids next week." Most vaccine opponents say compliance with the new law is out of the question. The only alternative is to home-school. "It's a little bit of panic and chaos every day," said Richard March of Poughkeepsie. "My wife had to take a leave of absence from her job so we can home-school our children, which is not sustainable by any means." Vaccine policy was not on the Regents meeting agenda, and Chancellor Betty Rosa warned protesters that they would be removed if they caused a disruption. According to the state Health Department, the existing14-day deadline may be extended in rare cases where the student is transferring from another state or country and can show a good-faith effort to get the required documentation. Read the full story in the Times Union.