WV Department of Health emphasizes the need for up-to-date vaccinations for students

CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — With the start of the next school year drawing nearer, the West Virginia Department of Health (DH) emphasizes the need to verify that students are up to date with their vaccinations.

Immunizations, alternatively called shots or vaccines, are an important way to guard kids from illness and disease, especially students that are in close contact with one another.

For the 2024-2025 school year, school children in grades K-12 in West Virginia must have proof of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, mumps, rubella, measles, varicella, and hepatitis B vaccines, unless a medical exemption is authorized by DH. Additional proof of vaccination is necessary for students entering grades 7 and 12 for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and meningococcal disease unless an authorized medical exemption is given by the DH.

In April, the first positive case of measles in Monongalia County led healthcare leaders in the Mountain State to discover that nearly 130 state residents and 24 out-of-state contacts were potentially exposed to the disease. The DH’s Bureau for Public Health and local health departments dedicated their efforts to outbreak prevention, successfully halting the disease’s spread through contact-tracing and other methods. Public health leaders want their efforts to show just how critical vaccinations are to keeping society healthy.

The final weeks of summer are an ideal time to schedule back-to-school immunizations for our students. Immunizations are crucial in preventing severe and potentially fatal illnesses. Measles, in particular, poses serious health risks, especially for our most vulnerable children.

Sherri Young, DO, MBA, FAAFP | Secretary, Department of Health

Recently, the DH launched a resource for those that need to access their immunization records and allows patients to see their vaccination history and print their records, called MyIRMobile.

Accessing your child’s immunization records has never been simpler. While MyIRMobile offers convenient online access, we encourage individuals with questions to consult their pediatrician or primary care provider.

Dr. Matthew Christiansen | State Health Officer

For more details regarding West Virginia immunization requirements, click here .

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