A frighteningly high percentage of kids in some Bellevue schools are not vaccinated against measles. It’s an invitation to sickness — mild for most —but for a small fraction of the population, complications like pneumonia and encephalitis can occur.

Given the safety and benefits of a measles vaccine, there is little reason for parents to not take this preventative measure for their children.

Measles vaccinations are required for kids, K-12, to attend state schools, but parents can — and do — opt out of getting their children vaccinated for several reasons: religious beliefs, medical issues, or for some a “personal” reason. The first two are understandable. The latter is not.

Nationwide, about 95 percent of children have had a measles vaccination before they enter kindergarten. But, according to state health data for the 2011-2012 school year, in some Bellevue schools the number is shockingly low with most of the objections not religious or medical, but personal.

At Interlake High School, 436 students, or 28.90 percent, were not vaccinated against measles. Of those, most were for personal reasons. Chinook Middle School had 23.8 percent, again, most for personal reasons. Others with high numbers for personal reasons for opting out were Lake Hills Elementary and Bennett Elementary schools. The rest of the schools were under 10 percent, but only eight schools were less than six percent, or close to the national average.

Some parents think the vaccine can cause autism, perhaps based on a 1998 study in a British medical journal. Not true. The paper was later retracted and thoroughly discredited. Other studies have found no link.

House Bill 2009, introduced by Rep. June Robinson, D-Everett, would remove the personal or philosophical belief exemption. The Washington State Medical Association, for good reason, supports the bill.

The Legislature should take swift action on this and make our kids‚ and everyone‚ healthier and safer.

Craig Groshart, Bellevue Reporter