Bill > SB466

This bill proposes to transform mandatory vaccination requirements in West Virginia into a voluntary system. Specifically, the bill eliminates existing provisions that required children to be immunized against specific diseases like chickenpox, hepatitis B, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus, and whooping cough in order to attend school or state-regulated child care centers. Instead, the bill mandates that vaccinations for children, adolescents, and adults will be entirely voluntary and require the consent of the individual, their parents, or legal guardians. The bill maintains that parents of newborns can request immunization information, but removes all previous requirements for vaccination as a condition of school enrollment, attendance, or employment. The only remaining penalty in the bill is a misdemeanor charge for physicians who provide false immunization certificates, which can result in a fine between $25 and $100. This represents a significant shift in West Virginia's approach to public health immunization policies, moving from a compulsory to a completely optional vaccination framework.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=466&year=2025&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill