SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Amid a measles outbreak that has sickened more than 50 people in the U.S. state of Washington, local lawmakers moved one step closer to end the personal or philosophical exemption for vaccine against the virus for school-age children.

The state's Health Care and Wellness Committee passed the bill on Friday to remove parents' right to use "personal or philosophical exemption" as a reason not to have their children receive the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination.

The bill was approved through a 10-5 vote, with all nine Democrats and one Republican in the committee supporting it. It will move to the House Rules Committee and then be sent to the full chamber for a final vote.

Washington is one of 17 states that allow personal, religious and philosophical belief exemption for some type of non-medical vaccine. Because of a rise in exemptions, the state saw an outbreak of the disease in recent days.

Hundreds of anti-vaccination supporters protested the bill before the hearing earlier this month, questioning the safety standards of vaccine. Some parents were worried about potential risks from vaccine.