WV bill could see relaxed vaccine requirements as measles outbreaks continue to pop-up in U.S.

MERCER COUNTY, W.Va. (WVVA) - The CDC reports that at least seventeen states in the U.S have seen measles cases this year alone. That’s including Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, all bordering the Mountain state.

During this year’s legislative session, West Virginia lawmakers passed house bill 5105. The bill would remove vaccine requirements for public virtual schools, private schools and parochial schools. Several Heath care providers are voicing opposition to the bill, especially as measles reports come to west Virginia’s doorstep.

The CEO of Princeton Community Hospital says these types of exemptions can have an impact on the ‘herd immunity.’ That in-turn can impact the spread of the disease.

“Risking that decrease in herd immunity could certainly impact these private schools or kids going to virtual schools.” Karen Bowling said in an interview. “At the end of the day it can actually impact all children in our state.”

Herd Immunity is a term that describes that, when enough people in a group or area have achieved immunity (protection) against a virus or other infectious agent to make it very difficult for the infection to spread. Immunity happens in multiple ways: through natural infection, vaccination or passive transfer.

Measles still poses a danger to children and the disease has been known to cause to death. Currently there are no reported cases of any measles outbreak in the mountain state.

The recommended immunization percentage to prevent a measles outbreak is 95%. West Virginia has an immunization percentage of 96%.

Bowling says she hopes to keep it that way.

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