‘Seismic Shift’: HHS Warns West Virginia May Lose $1.37 Billion in Funding if Health Departments Don’t Allow Religious Exemptions

by Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D.

 

West Virginia could lose $1.37 billion in federal health funding if the state’s health departments don’t follow laws recognizing religious freedom — including religious exemptions to childhood vaccination — the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said.

In an Aug. 21 letter, HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued the warning to West Virginia health departments participating in the federal Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) — a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program that requires doctors to administer all vaccines on the childhood immunization schedule to Medicaid patients.

In a statement provided to The Defender, an HHS spokesperson said, “The letter to the West Virginia health departments is not a notice of investigation, and it makes no finding on compliance,” adding:

“The letter describes the HHS Office for Civil Rights’ portfolio for enforcing conscience and religious freedom provisions. The letter focuses on one of the conscience protections in OCR’s jurisdiction: the conscience protection in the Vaccines for Children Program. The letter reminds the health departments throughout the state of their obligations for participating in the program.”

The letter could have implications for states that don’t allow religious exemptions, said Children’s Health Defense (CHD) CEO Mary Holland, who called the letter “unprecedented…

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE… (childrenshealthdefense.org)

 

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