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West Virginia Mother Sues Over School Immunization Requirements

By Howard M. Friedman

Yesterday's Charleston (WV) Daily Mail reports on a lawsuit filed in federal court last month by a mother who objects on religious grounds to her 6-year old daughter receiving her required immunizations to attend school. The mother says her beliefs are a combination of Baptist and Pentecostal doctrines. While West Virginia allows medical exemptions from the immunization requirements, it is one of only two states (the other is Mississippi) that have no exemption for religious or philosophical objections. The mother, Jennifer Workman, also says she is concerned that her daughter Madison might develop autism from the required vaccines. Workman's other daughter was diagnosed with atypical autism and other health problems shortly after she received immunizations. Madison is being home-schooled while the case is pending. State authorities say Workman failed to go through the state appeals process to obtain an exemption before filing the lawsuit.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 14, 2009 (boomark / email).