West Virginia’s GOP controlled state legislature voted on Saturday to exempt some students from the state’s vaccination requirements, which have been regarded as the strictest in the nation.

The bill was passed despite the objections from Republican Senate Health and Human Resources chair Mike Maroney. A trained doctor, Maroney called the bill an “embarrassment”, and said that he thought lawmakers were harming their state.

“I took a oath not to harm anyone. Maroney told the Senate that there was no way she could vote for the bill. The bill passed 18-12. The House had already passed a version in February, and the Senate quickly approved the bill on Saturday. This was the final day of the 60-day session of the legislature.

“It is a bad law for West Virginia. It’s a step in the wrong direction.” Maroney stated that there is no doubt, and no question about the negative effects. Maroney added: “It is an embarrassment that I am a part, and it should be for everyone.”

West Virginia is one of two states (along with California) that do not allow non-medical exemptions from vaccinations for school entrance.

Mississippi had the exact same policy up until July when a court allowed people to use religious beliefs as an excuse to request exemptions to state-mandated vaccines that must be given to children before they can attend daycare or school.

The Republican Governor of West Virginia is now preparing to sign the new vaccine law. Jim Justice allows virtual public schools students to be exempted and private and parochial school to implement their own policies, either exempting or not.

All West Virginia students who participate in school activities that involve competition, such as sports but not only, must be immunized.

The bill states that parents cannot sue private school owners, administrators and boards for their decision to allow or deny exemptions, so long as they provide a signed notice to parents each year and at enrollment.

Maroney, before introducing the Senate bill, said: “I do not personally urge passage but your health panel has urged passage.”

As originally introduced to the House of Delegates of the state, this bill was intended to remove vaccination requirements for public virtual school students. In a House Committee, the bill was amended to allow private schools set their own vaccination requirements, unless students participate in sanctioned sports.

The bill created a religious exception for children whose parents or guardians provide a letter that states the child is not able to be vaccinated due to religious reasons. This was removed in the Senate.

Dr. Alvin Moss, a professor at the West Virginia University School of Medicine, argued in favor of the bill during a Senate Health Committee hearing earlier this week. He said the current state compulsory vaccination policy was unethical from a medical standpoint because it didn’t allow for informed consent.

Moss says that the number of parents refusing to vaccinate their children is increasing.

In 2017, West Virginians for Health Freedom, a group that opposes vaccination requirements, had 300 members. Moss stated that this number will grow to at least 3,001 members by 2024.

Chanda Adkins (former West Virginia Republican delegate) said that the group’s member believes religious families who do not want to vaccinate children should be allowed to practice their beliefs.

Lisa Costello, former West Virginia Medical Association doctor, disagreed and said that West Virginia’s current vaccination policy is “the gold standard” throughout the nation.

She said that West Virginia was a leader in the nation when it came to routine child immunizations. Later, she added, “Measles doesn’t care if you attend a private or public school.” Measles is not discriminatory based on where you attend school.

West Virginia law requires that children receive vaccinations against chickenpox and other diseases, including hepatitis B, measles mumps diphtheria polio rubella tetanus tetanus, mumps meningitis, whooping cough, whooping, polio and hepatitis b. Unless they have a medical exemption. West Virginia does NOT require COVID-19 vaccines.