Who in the classroom may pose the biggest risk to those who are immunocompromised?

•Children recently vaccinated with live vaccines (chickenpox and measles-mumps-rubella MMR) required for school attendance may SHED those VIRUSES for 2-6 weeks (Figure).

•Because of viral shedding, immunocompromised children are advised to AVOID CONTACTwith recently vaccinated children (Figure).

•Children in the classroom RECENTLY VACCINATEDwith live vaccines may POSE THE BIGGEST RISKto immunocompromised children.

•Yet schools do not notify immunocompromised children when recently vaccinated students are in class.

•Immunocompromised children are also at risk for ALL the viral and bacterial infections for which there are not vaccines.

•It makes no sense to bar healthy unvaccinated children who do not pose a risk to immunocompromised children from attending school. Their parents pay taxes to support public schools.

•West Virginia parents are looking to the Legislature to UNDO THE INJUSTICE in the state’s compulsory immunization law.