By Steven Allen Adams for The Intelligencer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Following up on an executive order issued last month by Gov. Patrick Morrisey, the state Senate Health Committee sent a bill to the full West Virginia Senate weakening immunization requirements for all school-age children in the state.
The Senate Health Committee recommended Thursday evening a committee substitute for Senate Bill 460, relating to vaccine requirements, to the full Senate for consideration. The bill was introduced on behalf of the Governor’s Office.
SB 460, as introduced, would have allowed parents and guardians to object to the requirements of the state’s program for compulsory immunization of public and private school children by citing a religious or philosophical belief. It would have required the parent or guardian to submit a written statement annually of their religious or philosophical objection to one or more of the required vaccines to the state health officer.
The amended bill instead allows the parent or guardian to present a written statement to the administrator of the child’s school or operator of a state-regulated child care center that the mandatory vaccination requirements cannot be met because it conflicts with the religious or philosophical beliefs of the parent, legal guardian or emancipated child.