The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) is extremely disappointed that state legislators have failed to pass legislation removing the personal/philosophical vaccine exemption (House Bill 2009). Given Washington state’s nationally low vaccination rates, this bill was our best opportunity for elected officials to rise above politics on this serious public health issue — all but guaranteeing that many of our state’s children will remain at risk for outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough.