This bill proposes amendments to West Virginia Code 16-3-4, specifically targeting the compulsory immunization requirements for children entering schools and state-regulated child care centers. The key change is the elimination of the hepatitis B and meningococcal meningitis vaccines from the list of required immunizations. The bill replaces the phrase "Except as hereinafter provided, a" with "A" to streamline the language, and it removes references to both hepatitis B and meningitis throughout the section, including in subsections (b), (c), (g), and (i).

The rationale behind this legislative change is based on updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which no longer includes these vaccines in the recommended childhood vaccine schedule. By removing these vaccines from the compulsory list, the bill aims to align state law with current public health guidelines. The remaining immunization requirements for school entry will still include vaccines for chickenpox, measles, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus, and whooping cough.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-3-4