OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — As health officials monitor an outbreak concentrated in southwest Washington, the state House approved a measure that would remove parents’ ability to claim a personal or philosophical exemption to vaccinating their school-age children for measles.
The vote comes in the midst of an outbreak that has sickened at least 71 people — mostly children age 10 and younger. As of Wednesday, Clark County Public Health said that they were investigating an additional three suspected cases.
The Democratic-led chamber passed the bill and it now heads to the Senate, which is expected to vote in the coming days on its own bill, which is broader.
While the House bill removes the philosophical exemption for just the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, the Senate measure seeks to remove such exemptions for any required school vaccinations.