MYNORTHWEST NEWS

State bill introduced to nix personal exemptions for measles vaccine

Jan 28, 2019, 3:29 PM | Updated: 9:25 pm

Measles, vaccine, unvaccinated...

The measles vaccine. (AP)

(AP)

A recently-introduced bill in the Washington State Legislature would put a stop to personal exemptions for the measles vaccine in children.

RELATED: Measles case in King County came in contact with hundreds

As of early Monday, there were 36 confirmed cases of measles in Washington, stemming from an outbreak that is thought to have started in Clark County. Clark County’s immunization rate for school-aged children is 78 percent, and a large majority of these cases were in children who were not vaccinated.

House Bill 1638 — introduced last Friday — would eliminate personal exemptions for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. The current law in place allows parents to decline immunization for children based on “philosophical or personal objections,” health risks as confirmed by a licensed physician, or religious beliefs.

HB-1638 would only apply to measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines in the “philosophical or personal objections” category. According to the Washington State Department of Health, just over 77 percent Washington state kindergartners were unvaccinated because of personal exemptions.

“Vaccines are really important to keep kids and other people healthy and safe. I’ve seen what a lot of these diseases do to some children and it can be very devastating,” Dr. Melissa Genualdi told KIRO Radio’s Heather Bosch last week.

RELATED: Washington measles outbreak prevalent in unvaccinated kids

Including Washington, there are 18 states that allow personal exemptions for immunizations. Just three — California, West Virginia, and Mississippi — do not allow any exemptions that are not for specific health reasons.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

8 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

9 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

11 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

11 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

12 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

15 hours ago

State bill introduced to nix personal exemptions for measles vaccine