Updates to Washington State laws regarding MMR vaccination

A new Washington State law updates the requirements for MMR vaccination for schools and childcare centers. The law, which went into effect on July 28th of this year, covers K-12 students as well as childcare attendees, employees, and volunteers. This law requires documentation of either receipt of two doses of MMR vaccine or a laboratory test showing immunity to the measles, mumps, and rubella viruses.

This law was passed in response to resurgence of measles in the United States over the past three years. In 2019, there were 86 reported cases of measles in Washington State, and two in Pierce County. Of these cases, 66 were unvaccinated, and another 16 either had a single vaccination or had no records available. Nationally, as of the end of September, there were a total of 1250 measles cases in 31 states.

Measles is a viral disease that causes a rash and a high fever. It is a highly contagious disease, and spreads quickly through unvaccinated people. Though most will recover from infection, measles can cause serious problems, including brain damage, hearing loss, and impaired ability to fight other infections. About one in 1000 people who catch measles will die from the disease.

The current vaccination schedule recommends the first MMR vaccine between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and the second between ages 4 and 6. Two doses of the vaccine is 97% effective against measles. If there is a local outbreak of measles, or if you are planning to travel to an area where measles occurs more frequently, these recommendations can change. If you have questions, talk to your pediatrician. The recommendations for MMR boosters in adults are complex, and vary based on your sex, age, and occupation. You’ll find them summarized here or in the vaccine schedule for adults.

The MMR vaccine has been in use since 1971. Over 2 billion children have received this vaccination in the 21st century, and this worldwide program has prev

ented an estimated 17 million deaths. This vaccination is both very safe and very effective. It has reduced the transmission of each measles, mumps, and rubella by more than 99% since we started using them in the United States. The most common side effects to receiving the vaccine are sore arm, fever, and mild rash.

Prior to 2019, individuals were able to opt-out of vaccination requirements for schools and childcare with personal choice waivers. Families that have used these forms in the past will still be able to use them for non-MMR vaccines this school year, but these waivers will not cover the MMR vaccination.

The pediatric providers who advise the Pierce County Immunization Coalition have told us that their phones have been tied up with questions about this new law. If you have further questions, check this webpage on the Washington State Department of Health website. If you need help with obtaining the MMR vaccination, talk with your healthcare provider or call the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department at (253) 798-6410.