West Virginia’s children and families have long benefited from the state’s strong immunization laws requiring children attending public school to be vaccinated. Now, an effort to reverse that is gaining momentum in Charleston, where it appears the pretense of “personal freedom” trumps public health.

The Senate Health Committee on Thursday amended and approved Senate Bill 460, which allows a parent or guardian to simply present a written statement to the administrator of the child’s school or child care center that the mandatory vaccination requirements cannot be met because it conflicts with the family’s religious or philosophical beliefs.

If SB 460 becomes law, it will significantly weaken the state’s immunization standards.

Supporters appear not to have taken into account the possibility that diseases that for generations have not been a problem for West Virginia school children — measles, for example — could again become a problem.

This bill simply puts children and their families at risk.

SB 460 now goes before the full Senate for consideration.

“I think religious exemption is something … that we should honor. I think most medical professionals do,” said state Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, a medical doctor. “My concern is when I talk to pediatric colleagues from all over the state, they all share experiences where children are showing up at the age of 5 that haven’t seen a doctor in years since they left the hospital. We have a very rural population that doesn’t take health care seriously, including their children.”

It’s hard to understand why a respected physician such as Takubo is being ignored. To do so is foolish and dangerous — putting public health at increased risk.

Some West Virginia parents have complained for years that even when their family doctors agree children should not be vaccinated, it can be difficult to obtain an exemption. Perhaps it’s time to consider loosening those strings. But to do so in the manner mapped out by Senate Health is irresponsible. Reject the bill.