West Virginia’s school vaccination requirement has been reinstated after the state Supreme Court paused a lower court ruling that allowed religious exemptions. On Tuesday, the West Virginia Board of Education announced it would no longer accept religious exemptions. This reverses a week-old suspension of the mandate. The shift followed the Supreme Court’s stay of Raleigh County Circuit Judge Michael Froble’s earlier ruling in a class-action lawsuit.
Froble’s injunction had temporarily allowed children to attend school and extracurricular activities even if their parents objected to vaccinations on religious grounds. But the Board cited the Supreme Court’s intervention as the reason for reinstating its directive. It emphasized its responsibility to enforce vaccine compliance and protect student health across the state.
Ongoing legal conflict over authority and exemptions
The class-action lawsuit centers on whether the state’s refusal to grant religious exemptions violates the Equal Protection for Religion Act, passed in 2023. Plaintiffs, including parent Miranda Guzman, argue that the law permits exemptions based on religious beliefs. Guzman’s exemption was revoked by her local school superintendent in June, prompting legal action involving over 570 families.
Froble had ruled that the state’s ban on religious exemptions was unconstitutional under the 2023 law. He also stated that the Legislature’s earlier failure to pass a bill allowing exemptions didn’t nullify the protections granted by that law. However, the Supreme Court’s stay means those religious exemptions are not valid for now.
Supporters and critics remain divided
Supporters of reinstating the mandate argue it protects children from preventable diseases and maintains public health standards. Medical experts have long praised West Virginia’s strict vaccine laws, which require immunization against diseases such as measles, mumps, polio, and whooping cough.
Critics, however, say the mandate infringes on religious liberty. They argue that the Equal Protection for Religion Act justifies faith-based exemptions, and that the governor’s January executive order supported this position. Detractors also challenge the Board’s rejection of the governor’s authority, noting that only the Legislature should determine such policies.
The governor’s office has yet to announce its next steps, but is currently reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision.
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West Virginia again bans religious reasons for school vaccine exemptions
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