As a nurse specializing in infection prevention and an advocate for immunizations, I’ve seen just how crucial immunizations are in keeping our communities safe. Recently, a rise in measles cases across the country has highlighted how easily preventable diseases can return when immunizations rates decline. Thankfully, West Virginia’s strong immunization laws have kept us protected from such outbreaks. But now, Senate Bill 460 threatens to loosen these protections, putting our most vulnerable populations at risk of vaccine preventable diseases.
For years, West Virginia’s school immunization requirements have been a cornerstone of our public health efforts, helping us maintain high immunization rates and prevent the spread of diseases. These laws help create herd immunity, where enough people are immunizied to stop the spread of disease. This doesn’t just protect those who are immunized; it also helps protect people who can’t get immunized, like infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. If Senate Bill 460 passes and expands vaccine exemptions, it would weaken herd immunity and make it easier for diseases like measles to spread. Vulnerable groups would be put at greater risk, and we’ve already seen how weaker vaccine laws have led to outbreaks in other states.
As a Navy veteran, I’ve experienced firsthand how important vaccines are in protecting both individuals and communities. Before deploying overseas, I received dozens of vaccines to protect myself, my fellow service members, and the people we encountered. In areas with limited medical resources, immunizations helped prevent the spread of dangerous diseases and kept us healthy. This same principle applies to our communities here in West Virginia: immunizations don’t just protect individuals; they help keep everyone around us safe.
The science behind immunizations is solid and well-established. Before a immunization is made available to the public, it undergoes rigorous testing in clinical trials with tens of thousands of participants. Once a vaccine is approved, it is continuously monitored by no less than 12 different agencies worldwide, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ensuring its safety and effectiveness.
Immunizations are one of the greatest public health successes in history, and they continue to save lives. Senate Bill 460 threatens to roll back the progress we’ve made by putting our most vulnerable populations at risk. We can’t afford to loosen these protections now. It’s time to stand up for science, continue to protect our children, and keep West Virginia a model of public health. Let’s preserve the effective immunization laws that have served the Mountain State so well.