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West Virginia Immunization Requirements
Updated Janyary 1994
Authority: Public Health, WV Code §16-3-4. (AR references are to WVC §16-3-4)General Rule: All children entering school for the first time in this state shall have been immunized against the designated diseases. No child or person shall be admitted or received in any of the schools of the state until he or she has been immunized. Persons enrolling from schools outside of the state may be provisionally enrolled under minimum criteria established by the director of the department of health so that the person's immunization may be completed while missing a minimum amount of school: Provided, however, that no person shall be allowed to enter school without at least one dose of each required vaccine.
Penalty: Any parent or guardian who refuses to permit his or her child to be immunized against the designated diseases, and cannot meet the medical exemption or show sufficient reason why not, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and except as herein otherwise provided, shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars for each offense.
Exception: There is not an express religious exception in West Virginia, though the one codified is interesting because it might be interpreted as one medical, or a medical and a parent's opinion. A certificate from a reputable physician showing than an immunization for any or all designated diseases, is impossible or improper or sufficient reason why any or all immunizations should not be done.
Certificate: If any physician shall give any person a false certificate of immunization, he or she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be fined not less that twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars.
Procedure: Any teacher having information concerning any person who attempts to enter school for the first time without having been immunized, shall report the names of all such persons to the county health officer. It shall be the duty of the health officer in counties having a full-time health officer to see that such persons are immunized before entering school.
Designated Diseases: Diphtheria, polio, rubeola, tetanus and whooping cough.
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