Editor, News-Register:

This is a huge thank you to the West Virginia legislators who voted against the proposals that would have weakened our childhood immunization laws. Childhood immunization rates have always been an area where West Virginia leads the nation. I am very happy that our record will continue. I know some think that requiring immunizations is an infringement on personal freedoms. That is the same argument used by some people who want to smoke cigarettes in public. If your actions affect only your own health, you can be as self-destrucive as you wish. However, like smoking in public, failure to immunize can have deadly consequences for the community at large. Unvaccinated children can negatively affect the other students, teachers, elderly, and others.

Thank you, legislators, for protecting our children and our communities.

Vickie Joseph

Wheeling