State legislator's bill would scrap 'personal beliefs' as legal reason to not vaccinate children

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A Washington state lawmaker has introduced a bill that would not allow personal beliefs to be a sufficient reason to not vaccinate a child.

Rep. June Robinson, D-Everett, introduced the bill Wednesday, the same day California lawmakers introduced a measure that would require all school children to be vaccinated unless a child's health is in danger.

Washington currently allows vaccination exemptions for medical, personal or religious beliefs. Robinson's bill would remove the personal belief exemption.

The move comes amid a measles outbreak that has sickened more than 100 people across the U.S., including cases in Washington, and in Mexico. No deaths have been reported.

National immunization data from 2013 show 71 percent of Washington children between 19 and 35 months old have received all of their shots on time.