Dear BCS Families:
Governor Jay Inslee signed EHB 1638, updating Washington state’s school and child care immunization requirements to remove the personal/philosophical exemption for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The law takes effect July 28, 2019 and applies to public and private schools and child cares. The Department of Health is working now to revise the Certificate of Exemption form and create resources for schools and child care centers.
Who is not Affected?
If you have chosen to vaccinate your students, this DOES NOT affect you.
Who is Affected?
This law will only affect those students who have a personal or philosophical exemption to the MMR vaccine. Students with medical or religious exemption are not affected by the new law.
What is the Requirement?
One dose of MMR is required for all children age 1 year and older in child care or preschool. Two doses of MMR vaccine are required for all students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. A minimum of 28 days must separate the two doses of MMR vaccine, which means someone needing both MMR doses will need one dose given as soon as possible, followed by another appointment scheduled a month from the first MMR dose.
Per state law, any student not in compliance with immunization requirements will be excluded from school attendance, until they can show satisfactory progress towards immunization requirements.
You can find more information at the WA Department of Health exemption law change web page, including FAQ’s: www.doh.wa.gov/mmrexemption
Please note this is a state law change that we are required by law to abide by.
If you have any further questions or need better explanation, please do not hesitate to contact the office, 360-733-7303 or email at: bcs@bellinghamchristianschool.org
Thank you,
Shawn Cunningham and the Office Staff