Law Affecting MMR Vaccine Exemptions Takes Effect Sunday

OLYMPIA, WA — As parents and students plan for school to resume across Washington, health officials on Tuesday sent out a reminder of the new state law removing personal and philosophical exemptions for receiving the MMR vaccine that goes into effect this weekend.

As of July 28, the previously allowed personal exemptions for the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine will no longer be accepted. Medical and religious exemptions for the MMR vaccine, as well as personal and philosophical exemptions for other vaccines, will still be allowed, officials said.

The new law applies to all new and returning students in both public and private schools, as well as youth enrolled in childcare, and to all childcare employees and volunteers.

According to state data, more than 90 percent of kindergartners and roughly 96 percent of sixth graders are currently up-to-date with their MMR vaccines.

Those stats, however, did not prevent a measles outbreak this year that has so-far affected 85 people in Washington, including two in Pierce County.

Thirteen measles cases have been confirmed since May, with the most recently confirmed case occurring July 16 in King County.

King County has reported a total of 11 confirmed measles cases this year; Clark County was hit the worst with 71 confirmed cases during the start of the outbreak — though none have been reported since May.

Snohomish County has had one confirmed case all year.