ALERT!! Call to Action! Call all Senators tonight - the vaccine bill (previously SB 460) is back - as HB 2776.
Posted about 1 month ago
ALERT!!
WV Nurses we are sharing a new CALL TO ACTION from the WV Immunization Network. We need your help!
Today, the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources recalled a bill from the Senate floor and amended immunization requirements into that bill. The Senate Health Committee added a strike and insert amendment to HB 2776, which as passed by the House of Delegates, required the Department of Health to report positive Alpha Gal tests to CDC. Alpha Gal is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic condition that can occur after a tick bite. It is not vaccine-preventable and has nothing to do with our childcare and school immunization policy. However, the Senate Health Committee essentially inserted some aspects of SB 460 (the bill that previously added nonmedical exemptions and passed the Senate but was voted down in the House) into HB 2776.
This is a quickly evolving situation and the Senate Floor could take this bill up as early as tonight or tomorrow. You can read the amendment here: https://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/chamber/2025/RS/com_amends/hb2776%20s%20h_hr%20am%20_1%204-7.htm
The strike and insert amendment does the following:
- Adds non-medical (religious) exemptions to the childcare and school immunization policy. A parent must submit a notarized written statement that they have religious beliefs opposed to immunization;
- The parent/guardian must receive information about the risks of adverse reactions to immunization and information about not receiving the required vaccinations and risks of contracting a vaccine-preventable disease;
- Exempts full time virtual public-school students who do not physically attend school from immunization requirements;
- Students with non-medical exemptions cannot be prohibited from participating in extracurricular activities or from attending school-based events; and
- Public, private, and parochial schools must create and maintain a report that contains the number of students enrolled who have been granted an exemption and the percentage of students enrolled in the school who have been granted an exemption.
CALL TO ACTION: Please call and email all members of the Senate and ask them to vote No on the Strike and Insert Amendment for HB 2776.
Contact information Senators can be found here: - a one-click link!
Click HERE to email every Senator now!
The following is a sample message that can be used for phone calls:
“My name is __________(If applicable… I am a constituent of yours or As a resident of _____ county or As a parent of children in the WV school system/in a local childcare facility …) and I am calling to request that you VOTE NO on the Strike and Insert Amendment for HB 2776. We are currently seeing the impact of nonmedical exemptions in other states and how dangerous vaccine preventable diseases can be. We do not want this for West Virginia. I ask that you Vote no on the Strike and Insert for HB 2776.
The following is sample text that can be used in an email:
Subject: Vote NO on Strike and Insert HB 2776 (Be sure to state this in your subject line in case they do not open the email.)
“Dear Honorable Senator (insert legislator’s last name),
(If applicable… As a constituent of yours or As a parent of ____children in public/private school/childcare facility …) I am emailing to request that you Vote NO the strike and insert to HB 2776.
We are currently witnessing widespread measles outbreaks, including in all our neighboring states. We can see in Texas just how dangerous these diseases can be, and we do not wish this for our state.
We ask all West Virginia Senators to oppose HB 2776 and preserve West Virginia’s nation-leading immunization policy.
Please vote NO on the strike and insert amendment for HB 2776.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Additional updates will be sent as they are available.
Thank you,
Lindsay
Lindsay Barr
Program Manager, West Virginia Immunization Network
The Center for Rural Health Development, Inc.
75 Chase Dr.
Hurricane, WV 25526
(O) 304-397-4071
(F) 304-397-4076
Thank you for making calls and sending emails from WV Nurses!
Julie
Julie Huron
CEO, WVNA