‘Turning back the clock’: Kanawha health officer speaks out against vaccine exemption bill – WCHS

'Turning back the clock': Kanawha health officer speaks out against vaccine exemption bill

{p}Kanawha Countys leading health official released a statement Monday expressing his concern after state lawmakers passed legislation over the weekend that would allow for vaccine exemptions in schools. (WCHS){/p}

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS)

Kanawha Countys leading health official released a statement Monday expressing his concern after state lawmakers passed legislation over the weekend that would allow for vaccine exemptions in schools.

Dr. Steven Eshenaur, health officer at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, has been vocal in his opposition to the bill, saying the consequences of the legislation could have wide-reaching effects.

"By allowing philosophical exemptions to the law, we are weakening the publics ability to prevent measles, mumps, tetanus, meningitis and polio, Eshenaur said in the statement. Make no mistake, these are debilitating and deadly diseases for which immunizations have been proven to be safe and effective.

Childhood vaccines have kept the Mountain State free from Polio since 1970.

House Bill 5105, which originally just stripped vaccination requirements for students in virtual school, was amended to allow private schools to make their own requirements and then added a religious exemption.

The highly-debated bill was passed Saturday and now heads to the governors office.

Eshenaur called on Justice, who he said he knows cares a lot about children, to veto the legislation.

If Governor Justice signs this bill into law, he will join the legislature in turning the clock back nearly 100 years in immunization protection for our children, Eshenaur said. I pray he vetoes HB5105. Lets all pray he does.

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'Turning back the clock': Kanawha health officer speaks out against vaccine exemption bill - WCHS