Gov. Jim Justice had a lot on his plate this past week, as he scrambled to handle the hundreds of bills that crossed his desk for a signature, veto or to remain untouched. In the midst of it all, Justice made an important decision in vetoing House Bill 5105, which would have eliminated the vaccine requirements for public virtual schools, private schools and parochial schools.
He ignored the wishes of some in the Legislature and instead listened to the experts who understand the legislation’s danger.
“Since this legislation was passed, I have heard constant, strong opposition … from our state’s medical community,” Justice said in his veto letter. “The overwhelming majority that have voiced their opinion believe that this legislation will do irreparable harm by crippling childhood immunity to diseases such as mumps and measles.”
Rather than allow the Mountain State to slip backward on the one issue we handle better than any other state, Justice took a stand.
“West Virginia is way ahead of the pack in protecting our children from preventable diseases like the measles, and in this matter, I will defer to our licensed medical professionals who have come forward overwhelmingly to say this bill could and likely would result in reduced immunity and harm to West Virginia’s kids,” Justice said. “Our kids are our future. They are our most important resource, and I will protect them with everything I have.”
It is a necessary point. Those who pretended their priority was protecting children only when it suited the rest of their political agenda should take note. Justice took the right stand here in keeping West Virginia at the top of the class with immunizations.
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