A judge has blocked a New York City rule that required preschoolers to get flu shots.

Judge Manuel Mendez's state Supreme Court ruling was issued early Thursday.

Five mothers sued last month. They argued that the 2013 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene rule was invalid because it wasn't voted on by the Legislature.

They also argued they would be excluded from certain types of preschools if they chose not to get their children immunized.

The requirement only applied to certain types of child care facilities. Under the rule, operators who didn't enforce the vaccine for children between 6 and 59 months could have been fined.

New mom Crystal Matrau-Belt describes the heartbreaking tragedy that accompanied her son’s birth. Her mother and the baby’s father were killed in a car crash on their way to the delivery. WOOD’s Ken Kolker reports.

The public health rule was initiated by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

City Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett said in a statement she was disappointed in the ruling.

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