CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A newly introduced bill in the West Virginia House of Delegates aims to prohibit mandatory vaccinations as a requirement for children to attend school or state-regulated child care centers.
House Bill 5090, introduced during the 2026 Regular Legislative Session, proposes changes to state law that would eliminate compulsory immunization for school enrollment. The bill was introduced by Delegates Anders, Kump, Kimble, Dillon, Coop-Gonzalez, and White and has been referred to the House Committees on Education and Health and Human Resources
Under current law, children must be vaccinated against a list of diseases—including measles, polio, hepatitis B, tetanus, and whooping cough—unless granted a medical exemption approved by state health officials. HB 5090 would remove the requirement that students be immunized as a condition for enrollment in public, private, parochial schools, and state-regulated child care centers.
The bill keeps existing language requiring the state to provide parents of newborns with information about immunizations. It also maintains provisions related to vaccine access, such as county health departments supplying vaccines at no cost to families who cannot afford them.
Additionally, the legislation retains penalties for physicians who knowingly issue false immunization certificates, classifying the offense as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine.
Supporters of the bill say it reinforces parental choice in medical decisions for children, while critics argue it could weaken public health protections in schools. If passed, HB 5090 would mark a significant shift in West Virginia’s long-standing school immunization policy.
The bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process and must pass committee review before advancing to a full vote in the House.
