Dr. Joe Golden

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? 

Continue to provide mandated vaccines to non-profits, free clinics, and public health clinics.

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.

Strongly encourage any non-vaccinated person to get vaccinated, and if anyone suspected of disease to be in quarantine at home, as well as other household contacts.

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

I have practiced medicine in WV since 1979, and have seen the effect of currently preventable disease on people before specific vaccines have been available. Such diseases such as polio, congenital rubella syndrome, meningitis, certain bacterial sepsis illnesses.