Proof of MMR Vaccine Required for Every Student in Washington Today

Today, Wednesday, January 8th, represents the first day students must be in compliance with a state law passed last year that requires proof of vaccination for students before returning back to school.

Although families can still opt out of getting vaccines for diseases like polio and Hepatitis B, they are no longer allowed an exemption for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

According to the legislation, "The attendance of every child at every public and private school in the state and licensed day care center shall be conditioned upon the presentation before or on each child's first day of attendance at a particular school or center, proof of either full immunization OR the initiation of, and compliance with, a schedule of immunization ... OR a certificate of exemption."

It is unclear if every school district across the state is prepared to enforce the law as of today.

More than 70 cases of the measles occurred last year during a statewide outbreak.

A copy of the legislation can be found here.