Bill letter

KarlieSmallwood

883 Barbour Corner Rd.

Flemington, WV 26347

March 12, 2015

The Honorable David McKinley

Horne Building 1100 Main Street, Suite 101

Wheeling, WV 26003

Dear Representative David McKinley,

My name is Karlie Smallwood, and I am a member of the Barbour County community. I attend Philip Barbour as a senior.

I am writing to express my concern for a federal immunizations bill. It is important that we protect our future generations, and immunizations have saved millions of lives for more than 50 years. The problem, however, is that the only two states that do not allow personal or religious belives for exception of immunizations are West Virginia and Missippi. I am rather proud that our state is among those two, but it alarms me for other states.

I strongly believe in individual rights, but this is a cocern of public health and safety. Not only does not immunizing your child put your child at a great risk, but also those who cannot receive immunizations at the time. Infants, pregnant women, and anybody with suppressed immune systems cannot receive immunizations therefore, if one chooses to not vaccinate their child and contracts a disease then, these citizens are at risk.

All vaccinations must be tested by the Food and Drug Administration. Also, they are 90-99% effective. It is our job to reserve the rights for children. Parents can get prosecuted for not taking their child to the dentist, doctors, or any other medical attention, yet they are allowed to keep them at risk of a terrible disease.

I greatly appreciate your time, and hope you understand the importance of a bill like this. Immunizations have helped our nation stay healthy for so long,but more young adults are using their “personal beliefs” to put others at risk.

Thank you for your consideration

Sincerely,

Karlie Smallwood