Crystal Dawn Butcher

On a scale of “Strongly Agree” (5) to “Strongly Disagree,” (1) rank your position on the following statements: 

Vaccines are safe: 5
Vaccines are effective at preventing disease: 5
Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility: 5

What is your position on West Virginia’s current school vaccine requirements (which allow only medical exemptions)? 

Maintain current requirements

In your view, what role should the state play in ensuring access to vaccines—especially in rural or underserved communities? 

Legislatures should govern by balancing data-driven policy with the diverse needs of their constituents, using data and facts to ensure all West Virginians have the most up-to-date scientific-backed evidence regarding vaccines.

Which of the following best reflects your understanding? 

Vaccines primarily protect the individual receiving them
Vaccines help protect both individuals and the broader community
Vaccination is largely a personal decision with limited community impact
Vaccination is a personal decision regardless of community impact 

If a preventable disease outbreak (such as measles) occurred in your district, what actions—if any—would you take as a policymaker (e.g., make a statement regarding safety, coordinate with public health officials, take policy actions, encourage vaccination, etc.

To manage a disease outbreak effectively, prioritize immediate coordination with state and local health departments to establish a Unified Command structure. This ensures that data sharing, resource allocation, and public messaging are synchronized across all agencies.

Is there anything else you would like West Virginia voters to know about your approach to public health, community wellbeing, and/or vaccines?

If we accept that vaccinations are a prerequisite for our pets to interact in social settings like doggy daycares—viewing it as a common-sense measure for animal safety—then we should apply that same standard of care to our children. Requiring immunizations for school and playgroups isn't just about individual health; it’s about ensuring that the environments where our children learn and grow are as safe as the ones we demand for our pets.