Christy Cardwell

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? 

Because vaccines are—and should continue to be—required for students to attend school, the state should work to assure vaccines are available in communities where families have difficulty reaching a healthcare provider or their county health department.

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.

I would do all of the things mentioned in the question above, as it is vital to the safety of our children and our communities as a whole to vaccinate.

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

I believe access to quality healthcare—especially preventative healthcare, such as vaccines—is a fundamental human right. Every West Virginian should be able to see a doctor and get the best care possible.