Conducting study of vaccinated and unvaccinated pediatric populations

West Virginia Senate Bill 992 requires the state Department of Health to conduct a study comparing health outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated pediatric populations using existing state data. The study will analyze datasets like Medicaid claims, immunization records, and hospital discharge data to examine associations with conditions such as asthma, autoimmune disorders, and neurodevelopmental diagnoses. Researchers must account for confounding factors like socioeconomic status and geographic location using established epidemiologic methods. The final report, to be submitted to the legislature, aims to inform public health policy through transparent data analysis without altering vaccination requirements.