July 26, 2019 @ 6:17 pm
Northwest News
OLYMPIA(AP) — Under a new law that takes effect Sunday, parents in Washington state will no longer be able to cite philosophical or personal beliefs to exempt their children from the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine that’s required for attendance at private and public schools and day care centers.
More than 80 cases of measles have been reported in the state this year, with the 10 most recent cases reported in King County between May and mid-July. A previous outbreak was centered in Vancouver, Washington where a majority of the cases involved children age 10 and younger.
Washington was one of three states that passed legislation this year in response to measles outbreaks.