With a state of emergency already declared in Washington State because of an ongoing measles outbreak, public health officials here are warning parents that vaccination can prevent kids from becoming sick.
More than 35 cases of measles have been reported, spread from more than 50 Washington State locations, including schools and grocery stores.
Washington is one of the 18 states that allow parents to opt out of kid’s vaccinations for moral or personal beliefs.
In 2015, Governor Jerry Brown signed a law making vaccines mandatory for kids in daycare, preschool, and K-12. Before 2015, California parents could also opt out for personal or religious beliefs.
Still, health officials say there are kids in California who need vaccination. In Washington, most measles patients should have already been vaccinated but were not.
