This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to introduce a religious exemption to the compulsory immunization requirements for school children. Specifically, it allows parents or guardians to submit a notarized Certificate of Religious Exemption Form to the school admitting official, stating that immunizations conflict with their religious beliefs. This addition is intended to provide an alternative for families who object to vaccinations on religious grounds while maintaining the overall immunization requirements for school entry.

In addition to the religious exemption, the bill outlines the process for obtaining exemptions based on medical contraindications, which must be accompanied by a physician's certification. It also establishes the role of an Immunization Officer, who will be responsible for making determinations on exemption requests and whose decisions can be appealed to the State Health Officer. The bill maintains penalties for providing false immunization certificates, ensuring that the integrity of the immunization process is upheld.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-3-4