Kanawha County Democratic Executive Committee reaffirms support for WV’s childhood immunization law
PRESS RELEASE:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Kanawha County Democratic Executive Committee has adopted a resolution strongly supporting West Virginia’s longstanding childhood immunization requirements, emphasizing the importance of science-based public health policies and the rule of law.
The resolution, passed on July 8, 2025, affirms the Committee’s unwavering support for the state’s current immunization statute, which allows exemptions only for medical reasons— a policy long recognized as a national model for disease prevention and public health protection.
“West Virginia’s immunization law is one of the most effective in the country because it protects not just individual children, but entire communities,” said Elaine Harris, Chair of the Kanawha County Democratic Executive Committee. “We cannot allow political interference or executive overreach to dismantle decades of sound public health policy that has kept our kids safe.”
The resolution cites multiple developments, including:
• The rejection of Senate Bill 460 by the West Virginia Legislature during the 2025 session, preserving the existing law.
• The State Board of Education’s guidance requiring school officials to enforce the current immunization policy.
• Ongoing litigation in Kanawha and Raleigh counties challenging the law and an executive order by Governor Patrick Morrisey, which the resolution contends exceeds gubernatorial authority.
“The governor’s executive order attempting to create broad religious exemptions not only undermines the law—it threatens the health of vulnerable children who rely on herd immunity,” Harris said. “This is not a partisan issue. This is about protecting public health and respecting the constitutional roles of our three branches of government.”
The resolution also pushes back against Governor Morrissey’s recent claim that West Virginia is an “outlier,” stating that the state’s immunization law has been emulated by others and continues to enjoy broad public support across party lines.
“We trust our Legislature made the right decision in rejecting Senate Bill 460, and we urge the courts to uphold the integrity of our laws,” Harris added. “The stakes are too high for us to play politics with our children’s health.”
The Committee’s resolution calls for continued enforcement of the immunization law, opposition to litigation or executive actions that would weaken it, and greater public education about the safety and necessity of vaccines.
Copies of the resolution are being sent to the State Board of Education, Governor Morrissey, members of the West Virginia Legislature, and other relevant stakeholders.
