(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Members of West Virginia’s House Health and Human Services Committee have injected a measure of common sense responsibility into the conversation about vaccine requirements for public and private school students in the state.

When state Senate Bill 460 made its way over to the House of Delegates, it included dangerous exemptions for religious and philosophical reasons.

In an 18-7 vote, members of the House committee removed them. Good.

The amended version of SB 460 that will now go before the full House still would allow a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner to submit a written statement to the school administrator or operator of the state-regulated child care center providing a student with a medical exemption for a specific required immunization if that medical professional determines the vaccination could be detrimental to the child’s health or is not appropriate.

“I think this bill shores up the medical exemptions that we heard testimony in here that weren’t happening, that were needed, and that there were issues with,” House Health Committee Vice Chairman Michael Hite, R-Berkeley. “And I think this bill has strengthened those medical exemptions to make sure that those people who testified in this committee will get the exemptions that they need.”

Surely there will be further discussion on the merits of those exemptions. But for now, it is encouraging to know the House Health and Human Services Committee understands there are some lines we simply must not cross if we truly care about children, families and the health of ALL West Virginians.