West Virginia's GOP-controlled state Legislature recently passed a bill allowing certain students not attending traditional public schools to be exempt from the state's stringent vaccination requirements. Despite objections from a Republican Senate Health and Human Resources Chair, the bill was approved in the Senate by an 18-12 vote. The House had previously passed a version of the bill in February.
West Virginia, known for having some of the lowest life expectancy rates in the U.S. and a significant child poverty rate, has historically upheld strict vaccination policies. The state, along with California, previously did not allow nonmedical exemptions for school vaccinations. However, a new bill, now awaiting the governor's signature, permits virtual public school students to be exempt and allows private and parochial schools to establish their vaccination policies.
