Charleston, WV (Wowk) – should children go to school in West Virginia? This was discussed by West Virginia senators on Tuesday.
The Senate of West Virginia focused on Bill 460, which would create a religious liberation from the vaccine requirements for school children.
“I am very optimistic that it will go away,” said Senator Laura Wakim Chapman, a Republican from the Ohio district. “Of course it still has to go to the house. It is an exciting day because there have been many people who have been fighting for years.”
Senate Bill 460 enables religious or moral exceptions for the vaccine requirements specified by the schools in West Virginia. The minority leader Mike Woelel presented a change in the legislative template, with which private schools could request vaccinations for religious reasons.
“The Catholic Church is not the end, but they have the right to lead their church as they think it is right,” said Woelel. “What’s next? Taking the Holy Rosary?”
The senators voted against the change. Woelel made up a further change in the legislation, in which children have to be vaccinated against a certain disease, polio.
“If you vote for Polio, it is about your conscience,” said the minority leader to the Senate. “These are real children who are born in our state. Save them in front of this demon who is polio, please!”
While this change received more support, it ultimately failed. Chapman said that the law will not lead to a polio outbreak, as Senator Woelel fears.
“I think vaccines are very effective and secure. I encourage everyone to be vaccinated, “said Chapman. I will say to the people who worry about an outbreak, our surrounding states have at least a religious liberation and these numbers do not even touch the immunity of the herds. There is no reason To assume that we will be different.
The Senate Bill 460 receives a third reading in the State Capitol on Wednesday morning and is then elected by members of the whole fund.
