1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge increased funding in the state budget for vaccines and public outreach efforts related to immunizations. The recent confirmed case of measles in a King County infant highlights the continued importance of ensuring widespread access to vaccines and promoting awareness about their vital role in protecting public health. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. While declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, measles cases persist due to imported cases from travelers and declining vaccination rates in certain areas. The infant in this case may have contracted measles while traveling abroad before receiving the recommended MMR vaccine dose for young children. The report indicates potential exposures occurred at multiple public locations in King County between February 20-25. This underscores the rapid transmission risk of measles and the vulnerability of communities with lower vaccination coverage. While vaccination rates for 2-year-olds receiving one MMR dose are relatively high at 87% in King County, rates fall below the 95% threshold for herd immunity needed to prevent wider outbreaks. Increasing state funding would bolster vaccination access and outreach campaigns to educate the public about the safety and efficacy of vaccines like MMR. The CDC highlights the widespread scientific consensus that vaccines are critical tools saving millions of lives each year. Additional resources are needed to combat misinformation and ensure all families can protect their children and communities against preventable diseases like measles. This is a crucial public health issue demanding immediate budgetary action. Prioritizing vaccine availability and promoting widespread immunization through outreach will safeguard our communities' wellbeing and uphold our shared responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us.