A 6th grade student at a private school received a notice right before Christmas. He was being kicked out of school after his medical exemption for a vaccine was revoked. The exemption was for a life-threatening allergy. The state revoked the exemption. He was kicked out for SIX WEEKS. His parents had to take him 2 hours away for allergy testing on the specific vaccine (some doctors local to the family refused after getting harassing phone calls from the state). Allergist confirmed that even with an extremely small sample, this child had a very strong reaction and a full dose could potentially kill him. The state granted a medical exemption. A TEMPORARY exemption. This child must endure this testing EVERY YEAR in order to keep this exemption.
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A first grade student in a public school received a similar notice. This child had a seizure disorder. He was just cleared to begin receiving vaccinations. His doctor wanted him to take things slowly and space them out over the year. Parents filed for a medical exemption JUST to space things out and not have him up to date right away (which would mean 14 shots in one day in a medically fragile child). The state denied this request. This would have been a fully vaccinated child after one year. This child is now homeschooled.
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An 11th grader moved back to the state to finish his schooling (he had moved away for a bit). He was told when enrolling that he would need a TB test and was sent to the health department. At the health department, he was told he had to have a TDaP shot, meningitis shot, and Guardasil to legally attend school. (lie – the TDaP and meningitis is required for 12th graders. Guardasil is not mandated. The TDaP and meningitis requirements were added via interperative rule and was not approved by legislature) The health department proceeded to call the boy’s father for permission then gave him the shots. Well, the boy hasn’t been living with the father who has no idea what this child’s medical history is. Secondly, by law, providers are required to verify the identity of those giving consent. How can identity be confirmed via a phone call? Thirdly, the parent/guardian must be given the vaccine information sheets PRIOR to the shots being given by law. How can that be done via the phone? Lastly, the child had already received some of these shots quite recently and did NOT need them again.
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Stories like these are happening weekly here in West Virginia. This is the only state in the US that makes not vaccinating 100% a criminal act – a misdemeanor. In court last fall, parents were assured that there are no plans to actually enforce the misdemeanor charge, but when parents didn’t comply with the added vaccines (with very questionable legality), they were threatened with charges, cps calls, and GAL (guardian ad litum – a court-appointed person to handle all medical decisions).
Basically, West Virginia only has a medical exemption. No religious exemption. No philosophical. Medical exemptions are incredibly hard to come by and are being revoked left and right. Doctors do not make the decisions regarding medical exemptions, rather medical health officers do. They never see the child. They only see a few pages of medical information. They do not have the whole picture.
Please pray for this state.
Yes. This is true. Here’s an article that explains all the details for you on how our state now allows state employees to write laws. We are awaiting a hearing with the Supreme Court to return power to our legislators who are ELECTED.
We are all on the same side. We all want to improve the health of kids in this state. We rank in the bottom of the barrel. We all want to improve education. Again – bottom. We simply differ in the opinion of HOW. Many people feel that vaccination is the best way to boost the health of our residents. They feel that any way to force vaccinations on the public is a good thing. Doctors are taken out of the decision making process. Others feel that vaccines are horrible and ruin health. There are many parents who would love to work with their doctor to do what is right for the health of their child.
We are all on the same side. The New England Journal of Medicine outlines how to increase vaccination rates. One way – allow exemptions. Here, parents often opt out completely and homeschool since there is no in-between. When given the ability to work with their doctor, delay or avoid certain shots, the vaccination rates rise. Doctors and patients rebuild trust.
We are all on the same side.
The maddening thing is, as we go to introduce bills each year when the legislative session begins, our fate, the fate of the children in the entire state, is in the hands of one man who gets to decide what items are taken on that year.
Please pray for our state.
We can’t take another year of hundreds of students being kicked out of school over this issue. My friend’s kindergartner was kicked out for having her last DTaP shot before her 4th birthday rather than after. After an expensive hearing, she is now on homebound instruction – paid for by the state – for the remainder of the year. (consider donating to offset legal fees!) We can’t take families leaving the state just to be able to follow their doctor’s advice. We can’t take this one-size-fits-all approach.
What do we need?
We need prayer.
We need money. This is a huge legal fight being fought by a small group of parents. Many have been fighting for years.
We need understanding. So many people just dismiss this and say it can’t be true. Well, it is true. It’s hurting our state. Other states are changing their laws quietly to be more restrictive.
We need help. If you are a WV resident, get to know We the Parents and help us fight for our constitutional rights.
Please help. There are families leaving the state. There are children being vaccinated against their doctor’s wishes because the state is bullying parents into it and those children are often injured as a result – sometimes for a lifetime. Help us end this dictatorship and bring West Virginia in line with 48 other states.
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