Bill > SB289

This bill revises the requirements and process for immunization exemptions for school children in West Virginia. The bill modifies existing law by creating two new types of exemptions to mandatory vaccination requirements: medical and non-medical. For medical exemptions, a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner can provide a written statement that a specific immunization may be detrimental to a child's health, and they will be protected from professional disciplinary action for doing so. For non-medical exemptions, parents, guardians, or emancipated children can obtain an exemption based on religious conviction or philosophical belief by submitting a written statement to the school or childcare center administrator. The bill eliminates the position of State Immunization Officer and the previous detailed medical exemption process. It maintains the requirement that children must be immunized against various diseases like chickenpox, hepatitis B, measles, and others to be admitted to schools or childcare centers, but now provides more flexibility in obtaining exemptions. Additionally, the bill permits individuals who are harmed by violations of these immunization requirements to seek injunctive relief in court, providing a new legal recourse for potential disputes.