GOP Senator Wants Religious Exemptions in WV
Immunizations have been a topic of debate this session, especially in the Senate. The House and the Senate both passed House Bill 2431, which would allow influenza immunizations to be offered to patients and residents of specified facilities on a voluntary basis based upon recommendations of the Center for Disease Control. The bill is now waiting for the Governor’s signature.
The House passed HB 2518 which would give the Board of Pharmacy rule-making authority to permit a pharmacist or pharmacy intern to administer certain immunizations. This bill is currently pending in the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee.
SB 537, HB 2945 and SB 359 would provide exemptions from mandatory immunizations. SB 537 was voted on in Senate Education this week; the committee approved the bill on a vote of 7-6. It will now be referred to the Senate Health and Human Resources.
Delegates and Senators have varying opinions about allowing non-medical exemptions. Delegate Joe Ellington (R-Mercer), the chair of the Health and Human Resources Committee said that they’ve been through this year after year. Ellington is a doctor and he said he agrees with vaccinations, but the individual should have the right to decline it.
“There are viable and reasonable exemptions from vaccinations,” he said. West Virginia requires vaccinations to enter Pre-Kindergarten, 7th and 12th grades. To receive a medical exemption in West Virginia, the child’s guardian must present a written request for an exemption from a physician, who has treated or examined the child, to the local health officer in the county where the child attends school. The request must include which vaccine and give reasoning for the exemption.
Senator Patricia Rucker (R-Jefferson) is the lead sponsor on SB 537.
“I’ve had many constituents, who are concerned about the ingredients in vaccines, come to me,” she said.
She stated that 47 of the 50 states have religious exemptions, which is what she hopes to accomplish with her bill.
“It is the medical establishments job to inform the public of the benefits of getting or not getting vaccinated. It’s the Legislature’s job to protect the freedoms of the individual.” According to the National Vaccine Information Center, West Virginia is one of three states that do not allow for religious or personal belief exemptions for immunizations. The only exemptions in West Virginia, California, and Mississippi are medical exemptions.
Senator Ron Stollings (D-Boone), who is a doctor too, believes the state should keep strong vaccination laws and to him that means medical exemption only. “Vaccinations are probably the most important public health tool in the history of mankind,” he said.
He stated that the benefits outweigh the risks. He said studies show that vaccinations do not cause autism; they protect highly contagious diseases. Research on vaccines are continuously being done.
“Other states are trying to look like West Virginia,” Stollings said, in regards to the medical exemption only. California allowed exemptions until last year when they changed to medical exemptions only.
