Kanawha County’s leading health official released a statement this week expressing his concern after state lawmakers passed legislation that would allow for vaccine exemptions in schools. Dr. Steven Eshenaur, health officer at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, said the vaccine exemptions weakens the public’s ability to prevent measles, mumps, tetanus, meningitis and polio. 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. The bill is on the governor’s desk. Eshenaur called on Justice, who he said he knows cares a lot about children, to veto the legislation.