Washington law against personal, philosophical vaccine exemptions goes into effect

Washington state is now the latest to no longer allow personal or philosophical exemptions for required vaccinations. The state is one of four across the country that is continuing to deal with a measles outbreak, with more than 80 cases reported in the state this year. Under the new law, which went into effect yesterday, parents will no longer be able to cite personal or philosophical reasons for not vaccinating their children with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, a requirement for kids attending public and private schools and day cares. Parents in Washington can still claim medical and religious exemptions, however. Washington follows Maine and New York this year in removing the option for personal exemptions when it comes to mandated vaccines. There are now only 15 states in the U.S. that allow some kind of non-medical exemption.