The measles outbreak that originated in Clark County has now spread across Washington and includes 62 confirmed cases as of Feb. 19. The cause of this outbreak is Washington’s, and more specifically Clark County’s, very high vaccine exemption rate. The national average exemption rate is 2 percent, Washington has an exemption rate of 4 percent, and Clark County has a staggering 6.7 percent exemption rate.
Washington is one of only 18 states that allow exemptions for philosophical or personal reasons, and a new bill has been proposed that would take Washington off this list. HB 5814, a companion to HB 1638, would only allow exemption from a vaccine if a health condition prevented the person from getting the vaccine. This bill deserves the community’s full support, especially knowing this measles outbreak could have easily been prevented by vaccination.
