Hundreds descend on Olympia to oppose measles vaccinations
OLYMPIA — Lawmakers began wrestling Friday with how to balance their desire to support parents and protect public health in response to the most significant measles outbreak in the state in a quarter century.
Hundreds of people descended upon the Capitol for a hearing on a bill to end parents’ ability to keep their school-aged children from getting a required vaccination for measles based on personal or philosophical objections.
Most of them came to show opposition to the legislation crafted as the number of confirmed measles cases stood at 52 on Friday, 51 of them in Clark County in southwest Washington. There’s been one in King County and four in Oregon.
“This bill is important to my community that has been overwhelmed by measles in this area,” said Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, at the outset of the half-hour hearing. He is the bill’s prime sponsor. There are 14 co-sponsors including three Snohomish County representatives.
Harris said he backs empowering parents to make health decisions for their children. But he said there are infants and children with suppressed immune systems “who are locked up in their homes” rather risking exposure.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/outbreak-politics-pits-parental-choice-against-public-health/?utm_source=DAILY+HERALD&utm_campaign=37fcfd79fd-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d81d073bb4-37fcfd79fd-228635337
= new reply since forum marked as read
