Morrisey says executive order giving vaccine exemptions will not be rescinded
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — Governor Patrick Morrisey is reaffirming his stance on an executive order that grants religious exemptions from vaccine mandates in West Virginia.
In a statement Monday, Gov. Morrisey called on the State Superintendent as well as county boards of education to work with the Bureau of Public Health to 'ensure that religious rights of students are protected.'
The executive order in question was one of eight that the governor issued upon taking office in January, which directed health officials to stop enforcing 'compulsory school immunization requirements' and to draft up an official objection process to the rule based on religion.
During this past legislative session, lawmakers submitted a bill—Senate Bill 460—that would codify religious exemptions for vaccines into West Virginia law. The bill passed the Senate, but failed in the House.
'Students will not be denied access to public education because of their religious objections to compulsory vaccination,' Morrisey said.
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A press release from the governor's office argued that the executive order is based on various freedom of religion guarantees on both the federal and state levels, such as the Protection for Religion Act of 2023, which 'prohibits government action that substantially burdens a person's exercise of religion.'
The release also provided details on how parents can apply to obtain religious exemptions by sending a letter to the Bureau of Public Health, and how the exemptions are handled on a year-by-year basis. It added that multiple lawsuits are already pending in federal courts that challenge West Virginia's 'compulsory' vaccine requirements.
The West Virginia Democratic Party called the guidance 'irresponsible' and 'misguided,' citing the legislature's rejection of the idea during this past legislative session.
'The legislature has already spoken clearly on this matter—Governor Morrisey has no authority to perform an end run around their decision,' stated Delegate Anitra Hamilton (D – Monongalia). 'It's disturbing that our Governor is prioritizing political pandering over the health and safety of West Virginia students and school personnel.
Democrats also criticized the fact that Gov. Morrisey has yet to appoint a Chief Public Health Officer after Dr. Matthew Christiansen's departure in 2024, claiming that the reason the governor hasn't done so is because '[he] knows it's virtually impossible to find a qualified professional willing to endorse the Governor's unscientific and medically unsound policies.'
You can read the full letter issued Friday by the governor here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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