Almost all states let kids attend school even if their parents choose not to vaccinate them. Vaccine exemptions are common in Washington state, where a measles outbreak started in January that has now sickened at least 67 people in four states. Additionally, New York is seeing its largest measles outbreak in decades. The New York outbreak started in October and has sickened over 200 people.
“Some states are engaging in such wide exemptions that they’re creating the opportunity for outbreaks on a scale that is going to have national implications,” Dr. Gottlieb told CNN.
If “certain states continue down the path that they’re on, I think they’re going to force the hand of the federal health agencies,” he added.
The commissioner did not provide details on when he thought the federal government should act or what the action should be.
“You could mandate certain rules about what is and isn’t permissible when it comes to allowing people to have exemptions,” he said.
Dr. Gottlieb said he hoped that the measles outbreak would make state officials realize they need to get stricter about vaccine exemptions.
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