Dr. Tom Takubo

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? 

I have a very strong record of fighting for our current vaccine policy. I do think there is room for improvement on medical exemption process which may be causing some of the conflict with anti vax movements.

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.

As a pulmonary and critical care physician, I will likely be caring for some of these individuals. My concern is there are so many elderly with weakened immune systems that if a large outbreak occurred here, we would see elderly casualties not seen elsewhere in the country.

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

I appreciate efforts like these to educate, inform and dispel false accusations. Let's not give up the fight to protect our children and our communities. Unfortunately, people cannot appreciate the gravity and severity of how devastating an outbreak will be until it’s too late.