Washington Measles Outbreak: Lawmaker Pushes Bill To Make Opting Out Of Vaccination Harder

05:31

February 14, 2019

In this Jan. 30, 2019 file photo signs posted at The Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Wash., warn patients and visitors of a measles outbreak. A measles outbreak near Portland, Ore., has revived a bitter debate over so-called personal belief exemptions to childhood vaccinations. (Gillian Flaccus/AP)

This article is more than 4 years old.

Washington state is experiencing an outbreak of measles, mostly concentrated in Clark County, some 20 miles from Portland, Oregon. Health officials blame the outbreak on people who refuse to vaccinate.

Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson speaks with Republican state Rep. Paul Harris, who represents Clark County. He is pushing legislation that would make it harder for residents to opt out of vaccinations based on personal or philosophical reasons.

This segment aired on February 14, 2019.

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