WV Board of Education to keep vaccine requirements against governor's wishes
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — The West Virginia Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to keep the current vaccine requirements for students, despite an executive order from Gov. Patrick Morrisey aiming to grant religious exemptions to the rule.
The board told State Superintendent Michell Blatt to direct local public schools to follow current compulsory immunization law, which does not include religious exemptions. A bill that would have granted philosophical exemptions failed in the West Virginia Legislature this past session.
Randolph County Schools placed under 'State of Emergency'
The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia also filed a lawsuit last month attempting to block the governor's executive order.
Gov. Morrisey has reaffirmed in the past that his executive order will not be rescinded. He claimed that religious exemptions for vaccines are necessary under the federal Protection for Religion Act of 2023, which 'prohibits government action that substantially burdens a person's exercise of religion.'
As of this publication, Gov. Morrisey's office has yet to issue a comment on Wednesday's vote.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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