Since Governor Patrick Morrisey signed an executive order in January permitting religious exemptions for school vaccinations, the West Virginia Department of Health has approved 186 exemption requests, according to recently released data.
New Exemptions in Response to Policy Change
The exemptions were granted under Morrisey’s January 14 directive, which invoked the 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act to allow families to opt out of the state’s mandatory school immunization requirements based on religious beliefs. Prior to this, West Virginia was one of only five states that did not allow such exemptions.
Until the executive order, exemptions were only available for medical reasons, such as severe allergic reactions to vaccines. The approval of 186 religious exemptions in just two months far exceeds the 53 medical exemptions recorded in all of 2023.
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Legislative Pushback and Uncertain Future
The West Virginia Legislature has not fully embraced the governor’s directive. Earlier this week, the House of Delegates rejected Senate Bill 460, which would have codified religious exemptions into state law. Although the state Senate passed the bill last month, the House altered its provisions to focus only on modifying the medical exemption process before ultimately voting it down.
Despite the legislative rejection, Morrisey has stated he will not revoke the order, creating a potential power struggle between the executive and legislative branches. In response, the Department of Health has confirmed it will continue following the governor’s directive, allowing for additional religious exemption requests.
Legislators Express Mixed Reactions
House Health Committee Chair Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, noted that while some lawmakers support religious exemptions, others are concerned about the lack of oversight.
“There was discomfort with the idea that a simple written letter could be enough to qualify for a religious exemption,” Worrell said in a recent interview. “Personally, I support the right to seek one, but this is why we have debates on these issues.”
Impact on Public Health
The 186 exemptions granted so far represent a small fraction of the state’s 250,000 school-age children, but health officials and lawmakers will likely continue to monitor the effects of this policy shift. The debate over religious and medical exemptions is expected to continue in future legislative sessions.