The West Virginia House of Delegates passed legislation this week that would create a religious exemption for mandatory school vaccines. House Bill 5105, which originally just stripped vaccination requirements for students in virtual school, was amended to allow private schools to make their own requirements and then added a religious exemption. As it currently stands, students entering school for the first time in West Virginia must show proof of immunization against several diseases, including tetanus, measles and hepatitis B. Under the proposed legislation, a child’s parent or guardian would have to present a signed letter stating the student could not get a vaccine due to religious reasons. The bill now heads to the West Virginia Senate for consideration.