The bill would make it harder for parents to opt their children out of measles shots in response to the worst measles outbreak in two decades.
Opponents protest a Washington bill that would prevent parents from getting philosophical exemptions from state requirements to immunize their children with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. By Lena H. Sun and Lena H.
The bill’s 11th-hour passage in the state Senate comes as the resurgent disease approaches record numbers and other states weigh similar legislation to close loopholes or eliminate personal or religious exemptions from vaccination requirements. State Sen. Annette Cleveland, the Democrat who sponsored the bill, spent more than two hours during the floor debate Wednesday night refuting misinformation about the safety of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and measles’ risk for children. She told colleagues that a vote against the bill would be “a vote against public health, a vote against the safety of our public spaces.”
Republican senators opposing the measure spoke repeatedly about the rights of parents and concerns about government overreach. “I really believe parents should have the right to decide what type of medical procedures to use on their children, and that’s especially true of little ones,” said state Sen. Mike Padden.“We are elated!” said Sarah Rafton, executive director of the Washington chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Simultaneous campaigns to toughen state requirements in Iowa, Colorado, Maine and Oregon also face strong opposition, although it remains unclear what, if any, impact Washington’s success might have on lawmakers in those states. Washington is one of 17 states that allow exemptions from required immunizations for personal or philosophical beliefs.
“I think it would also suggest that a very vocal minority has a disproportionate amount of influence on an issue that impacts everybody,” he said.
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