Latest news with #WestVirginiaDepartmentofHealth
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
West Virginia Cancer Registry gains national recognition
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — The West Virginia Cancer Registry gained nationwide distinction, as announced by the West Virginia Department of Health (DH). According to a press release, the registry has achieved the Gold Standard for Registry Certification from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACR). The program has earned the certification for 26 years in a row, demonstrating a dedication to quality, completeness, and timeliness of their data. Our ability to track data that is of quality is vital as we work each and every day to learn more about cancer, its cause, and its cure. Registry team for their hard work and dedication. This national recognition, and the fact that we've retained it for nearly three decades, is proof of their unwavering commitment to collect, distribute, and evaluate the state's cancer data in a timely manner. Dr. Arvin Singh | Secretary of Health, West Virginia Department of Health Lewisburg to host its first Juneteenth Celebration The West Virginia Cancer Registry collects data regarding all cancers diagnosed and/or treated within the Mountain State, the release stated. It also shares that data through lawful sharing agreements, in which information is exchanged regarding cancer patients diagnosed and/or treated in the state with providers outside of the state. For more information regarding programs within the Department of Health, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Some 300 West Virginia school vaccine exemptions granted under new, laxer policy
The West Virginia Department of Health has approved just over 330 requests for religious and philosophical exemptions to West Virginia's school vaccine policy for this school year and 35 have been granted for the coming year, according to records obtained by The 74. (Getty Images) This story first appeared at The 74, a nonprofit news site covering education. Sign up for free newsletters from The 74 to get more like this in your inbox. Just over 330 requests for religious and philosophical exemptions to West Virginia's school vaccine policy have been submitted — and approved — for this school year and 35 have been granted for the coming year, according to records obtained by The 74. The newly approved religious and philosophical exemptions already outpace the 203 permanent medical exemptions granted in the state over the past decade, at one time the only exemptions allowed in West Virginia. Before January, when Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed an executive order opening the door for broader exemptions, the state had some of the nation's strictest childhood vaccination policies. The loosening of those policies is occurring amid a deadly measles outbreak that has infected over 1,000 people across 30 states and despite state legislators rejecting a bill in March which would have codified religious exemptions into state law. The conflict between the governor's order and the legislature's action has led to confusion over how West Virginia officials should proceed and could ultimately lead to legal action between the two branches of government. In the meantime, the West Virginia Department of Health is granting religious and philosophical exemptions based on the governor's order and shared those numbers in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by The 74. No requests for the newer category of exemptions has been denied, the department said. In contrast, 125 requests for medical exemptions to mandatory school vaccines have been rejected since 2015. Temporary medical exemptions have been granted to 288 West Virginia children in the past decade. Richard Hughes, a George Washington University law professor and leading vaccine law expert, said the 331 religious and philosophical exemptions sought in just five months represent a 'drastic, dramatic increase in the request for exemptions, and that's going to potentially have public health consequences.' He added the state appears to be approving them liberally and without real scrutiny. 'Clearly, when you open the door to these types of exemptions, people use them,' he said. 'There has been evidence before that when only religious exemption is available, people request them without any really sincerely held belief. This just opens the floodgates.' While the 331 students who have received exemptions represent a very small percentage of the approximately 251,000 children enrolled in public schools across the state, experts fear the number will continue to rapidly climb, especially at the start of the coming school year. 'You see how fast we approved those? Hundred percent approved … So if we keep allowing an executive order that goes against West Virginia code, it's going to change the vaccination rate …' said Sissy Price, a registered nurse who serves as co-director of West Virginia Families for Immunization. 'And it's not a matter of if it's going to happen, it's a matter of when.' Experts also emphasized the importance of knowing which regions or schools in West Virginia the exempted students come from to better understand the impact on herd immunity and to allow parents — especially those of immunocompromised students — to make informed decisions about where to send their kids to school. Despite the governor's insistence that the state collect that information, an official at the Health Department wrote in an email to The 74, 'Nobody in the Department of Health or the Bureau for Public [Health] tracks that.' 'There's a failure of government there,' said Northe Saunders, executive director of the pro-vaccine SAFE Communities Coalition. 'There's a failure of making sure that parents can make the best informed decision that they can if we don't know what immunization rates are like at the school level.' The governor's office and the Department of Health did not respond to requests for comment. So far, West Virginia has no reported measles cases. Two children, both of whom were unvaccinated, have died during the current outbreak, whose case numbers have already surpassed 2024's total and mark the second-highest number of confirmed cases in a year since the disease was declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000. Some 96% of reported infections have involved a person who was unvaccinated or whose status was unknown and 13% have resulted in hospitalization. In issuing his Jan. 14 executive order, Morrisey relied on an interpretation of the state's 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act. He argued that the law as it stood 'forces' some West Virginians 'to choose between their religious belief and their children's fundamental right to public education,' and directed the commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health and the state health officer to establish a process for parents to object. The executive order noted that a 'written, signed objection' was sufficient. Based on the legislature voting down the measure to codify the broader exemption category, state schools Superintendent Michele Blatt issued a memo earlier this month to county superintendents recommending that students not be allowed to attend school next year without required immunizations, regardless of requests for religious exemptions. 'We are faced with the fact that state law has not been changed by the Legislature and there is no religious exemption provided for in West Virginia law,' Blatt wrote, according to reporting by West Virginia Watch. But, by the end of the day she rescinded the memo, saying she had done so 'at the Governor's request.' Morrisey then issued a letter May 9 saying that despite the legislative hurdle, the executive order 'still stands, and I have no intention of rescinding it.' He further clarified the process to receive an exemption: Each year, parents or guardians must send a signed letter with basic information including their child's name, date of birth and mailing address. Notably, the letter does not need to include the reason for the requested exemption. In the wake of this confusion, some school districts have begun seeking legal guidance about how to respond. West Virginia is not an outlier in its quest to allow parents to opt their children out of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine that is a requirement in all 50 states for children entering child care and schools. 'It goes towards the general erosion of vaccine policy,' said Saunders. 'We've seen these kinds of small, incremental changes that are eroding vaccine policy in states across the country. There are still school entry requirements in West Virginia — just like there are in every single state — but this is one other chink in the armor of strong vaccine policy driving strong immunization rates.' Childhood vaccination rates have been falling since COVID, and there's fear that decline will accelerate now that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic, is heading the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. He initially downplayed the measles spread in late February, and on May 14, at his first appearance in Congress since his confirmation, he waffled on the importance of vaccines. When asked if he would vaccinate a child of his own against measles today he responded, 'Probably for measles. What I would say is my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.' He continued, 'I don't want to make it seem like I'm being evasive, but I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me.' Last week, the Food and Drug Administration, which falls under HHS, released updated guidance for COVID vaccines, saying they may require additional studies before approving the shots for healthy Americans younger than 65. Candice Lefeber, executive director of West Virginia's chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said this move played into one of her fears: 'I think the administration is going to make it harder for vaccines to be available.' 'Not only are we not going to require it, but then access to vaccines would be compromised,' she continued. 'It's just really disheartening for science and for our country — and we're in big trouble.' This story was produced by The 74, a non-profit, independent news organization focused on education in America. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Some 300 W. Virginia School Vaccine Exemptions Granted Under New, Laxer Policy
Just over 330 requests for religious and philosophical exemptions to West Virginia's school vaccine policy have been submitted — and approved — for this school year and 35 have been granted for the coming year, according to records obtained by The 74. The newly approved religious and philosophical exemptions already outpace the 203 permanent medical exemptions granted in the state over the past decade, at one time the only exemptions allowed in West Virginia. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Before January, when Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed an executive order opening the door for broader exemptions, the state had some of the nation's strictest childhood vaccination policies. The loosening of those policies is occurring amid a deadly measles outbreak that has infected over 1,000 people across 30 states and despite state legislators rejecting a bill in March which would have codified religious exemptions into state law. The conflict between the governor's order and the legislature's action has led to confusion over how West Virginia officials should proceed and could ultimately lead to legal action between the two branches of government. In the meantime, the West Virginia Department of Health is granting religious and philosophical exemptions based on the governor's order and shared those numbers in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by The 74. No requests for the newer category of exemptions has been denied, the department said. In contrast, 125 requests for medical exemptions to mandatory school vaccines have been rejected since 2015. Temporary medical exemptions have been granted to 288 West Virginia children in the past decade. Richard Hughes, a George Washington University law professor and leading vaccine law expert, said the 331 religious and philosophical exemptions sought in just five months represent a 'drastic, dramatic increase in the request for exemptions, and that's going to potentially have public health consequences.' He added the state appears to be approving them liberally and without real scrutiny. 'Clearly, when you open the door to these types of exemptions, people use them,' he said. 'There has been evidence before that when only religious exemption is available, people request them without any really sincerely held belief. This just opens the floodgates.' While the 331 students who have received exemptions represent a very small percentage of the approximately 251,000 children enrolled in public schools across the state, experts fear the number will continue to rapidly climb, especially at the start of the coming school year. 'You see how fast we approved those? Hundred percent approved … So if we keep allowing an executive order that goes against West Virginia code, it's going to change the vaccination rate …' said Sissy Price, a registered nurse who serves as co-director of West Virginia Families for Immunization. 'And it's not a matter of if it's going to happen, it's a matter of when.' Experts also emphasized the importance of knowing which regions or schools in West Virginia the exempted students come from to better understand the impact on herd immunity and to allow parents — especially those of immunocompromised students — to make informed decisions about where to send their kids to school. Despite the governor's insistence that the state collect that information, an official at the Health Department wrote in an email to The 74, 'Nobody in the Department of Health or the Bureau for Public [Health] tracks that.' 'There's a failure of government there,' said Northe Saunders, executive director of the pro-vaccine SAFE Communities Coalition. 'There's a failure of making sure that parents can make the best informed decision that they can if we don't know what immunization rates are like at the school level.' So far, West Virginia has no reported measles cases. Two children, both of whom were unvaccinated, have died during the current outbreak, whose case numbers have already surpassed 2024's total and mark the second-highest number of confirmed cases in a year since the disease was declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000. Some 96% of reported infections have involved a person who was unvaccinated or whose status was unknown and 13% have resulted in hospitalization. Related In issuing his Jan. 14 executive order, Morrisey relied on an interpretation of the state's 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act. He argued that the law as it stood 'forces' some West Virginians 'to choose between their religious belief and their children's fundamental right to public education,' and directed the commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health and the state health officer to establish a process for parents to object. The executive order noted that a 'written, signed objection' was sufficient. Related Based on the legislature voting down the measure to codify the broader exemption category, state schools Superintendent Michele Blatt issued a memo earlier this month to county superintendents recommending that students not be allowed to attend school next year without required immunizations, regardless of requests for religious exemptions. 'We are faced with the fact that state law has not been changed by the Legislature and there is no religious exemption provided for in West Virginia law,' Blatt wrote, according to reporting by West Virginia Watch. But, by the end of the day she rescinded the memo, saying she had done so 'at the Governor's request.' Morrisey then issued a letter May 9 saying that despite the legislative hurdle, the executive order 'still stands, and I have no intention of rescinding it.' He further clarified the process to receive an exemption: Each year, parents or guardians must send a signed letter with basic information including their child's name, date of birth and mailing address. Notably, the letter does not need to include the reason for the requested exemption. In the wake of this confusion, some school districts have begun seeking legal guidance about how to respond. West Virginia is not an outlier in its quest to allow parents to opt their children out of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine that is a requirement in all 50 states for children entering child care and schools. 'It goes towards the general erosion of vaccine policy,' said Saunders. 'We've seen these kinds of small, incremental changes that are eroding vaccine policy in states across the country. There are still school entry requirements in West Virginia — just like there are in every single state — but this is one other chink in the armor of strong vaccine policy driving strong immunization rates.' Childhood vaccination rates have been falling since COVID, and there's fear that decline will accelerate now that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic, is heading the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. He initially downplayed the measles spread in late February, and on May 14, at his first appearance in Congress since his confirmation, he waffled on the importance of vaccines. Related When asked if he would vaccinate a child of his own against measles today he responded, 'Probably for measles. What I would say is my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.' He continued, 'I don't want to make it seem like I'm being evasive, but I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me.' Last week, the Food and Drug Administration, which falls under HHS, released updated guidance for COVID vaccines, saying they may require additional studies before approving the shots for healthy Americans younger than 65. Candice Lefeber, executive director of West Virginia's chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said this move played into one of her fears: 'I think the administration is going to make it harder for vaccines to be available.' 'Not only are we not going to require it, but then access to vaccines would be compromised,' she continued. 'It's just really disheartening for science and for our country — and we're in big trouble.'
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
West Virginia Department of Health changes death certificate process
The West Virginia Department of Health has changed its death certificate process to improve access for families, according to a community announcement. The West Virginia Health Statistics Center will now fulfill all orders for certified copies of death certificates, even if the cause and manner of death are pending. This change is effective immediately. The update aims to eliminate delays for families needing official documentation for urgent matters like funeral arrangements, estate settlements and legal affairs. 'Ensuring that families can access a certified death certificate, even when the cause or manner of death is still pending, is a critical step in reducing unnecessary delays during an already challenging period,' Health Secretary Arvin Singh said in the announcement. 'By providing this service, we are helping West Virginians resolve these sensitive matters more quickly, making it easier for them to carry out funeral arrangements, complete legal processes and settle estates without unnecessary delays.' Under West Virginia Code of State Rules § 64-32-15, certified death certificates must include basic information such as the name, date of birth, date of death and location of death. They remain valid even when the cause or manner of death is pending. The department emphasized that this change will not compromise the accuracy or legitimacy of the death certificate, which is essential for families and legal processes. Electronic payment options are now available for certified copies of birth, death and marriage records. These can be obtained in person at the walk-up window, open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The cost remains $12 per copy. For more information on obtaining certified copies of vital records or to plan a visit to the Vital Records Office, go to An expedited service is also available through VitalChek at The West Virginia Department of Health aims to advance the health and well-being of all West Virginians by promoting healthy behaviors, working to mitigate public health crises and increasing access to health-related resources and information. For more information, go to This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. WVU Medicine announces community wellness screening This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: death certificate process improves access for families
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
WV families are already using religious exemptions allowed under Morrisey order, officials say
Since Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued an executive order to allow religious exemptions for vaccines in January, the state has received 186 requests for exemptions. The West Virginia Department of Health said all 186 requests have been approved. (Getty Images) More than 180 religious or philosophical exemptions to the state's school immunization requirements have been requested in the approximately two months since Gov. Patrick Morrisey's executive order, and all of the requests have been approved, health officials say. The West Virginia Department of Health released the number of exemptions approved this week in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from West Virginia Watch. The response included the number of requests, but no identifying information about the nature of the requests. Morrisey issued an executive order Jan. 14 directing the state, through the 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act, to allow religious exemptions to the state's vaccine requirements. The department said 186 exemptions have been made and approved between then and Monday. All states require school children to be vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases, including measles, polio and chicken pox. Until January, West Virginia was among only five that did not allow religious or philosophical exemptions to those requirements. West Virginia state code currently allows only exemptions for children who have a medical reason, such as an allergy or a previous severe reaction to a vaccine. Morrisey's executive order also directed the state health officer, a position that's currently not filled, to come up with rules and legislation to facilitate religious exemptions. The state House of Delegates on Monday rejected Senate Bill 460, a bill Morrisey requested that would have established those religious exemptions in state code. Morrisey said Monday he would not rescind the order, setting up a potential clash between the state's executive and legislative branches. The Department of Health said it would continue to abide by Morrisey's order, despite the Legislature rejecting the bill. The Senate easily passed Senate Bill 460 last month with a vote of 20 to 12. In the House, the Health Committee had pared down the legislation, aiming to change the medical exemption process only. The religious exemptions were added back into the bill on the House floor last week. During an interview with HD Media's Outside the Echo Chamber this week, House Health Committee Chair Evan Worrell, R-Cabell said that Senate Bill 460 is dead, but that lawmakers could continue to have conversations about whether to change the medical exemption process for vaccines. 'I think ultimately some people had a lot of consternation around the religious exemption, that you could just write a letter and you could have that exemption,' Worrell said. 'I personally believe that we should be able to do that, but that's just my vote and that's why we have this debate.' The 186 exemptions represent a minuscule portion of the state's school age population, estimated to be about 250,000. But it's more than three times the 53 medical exemptions requested in 2023, according to a report from the state Department of Health. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
