The West Virginia Senate on February 21, 2025, approved a bill that would allow religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccination requirements in schools. This decision marks a significant shift in one of the nation’s strictest school vaccination policies, which currently only permits medical exemptions. If passed by the House, the bill is expected to be signed into law by Republican Governor Patrick Morrisey, a strong proponent of religious exemptions. The proposed law is expected to impact the state’s vaccination requirements for public, private, and religious schools.
A shift in vaccine policy
West Virginia is one of just five US states that does not allow religious or philosophical exemptions for vaccinations, with only medical exemptions accepted. The state has long been praised for its high vaccination rates, which experts say have helped protect children from preventable diseases. However, proponents of the new bill argue that parents should be able to decide whether their children receive vaccines based on their religious or philosophical beliefs.
Republican Senator Laura Wakim Chapman of Ohio County, a key supporter of the bill, argued that education is a fundamental right and that imposing strict vaccine requirements on children violates their religious beliefs. “We have no business trampling on a child’s religious beliefs for a fundamental right to have an education,” Wakim Chapman stated, as reported by the Associated Press. She also emphasized that West Virginia’s law is not an extreme measure, pointing out that 45 other states have already adopted similar exemptions.
The bill’s provisions and opposition
The bill, which would allow families to file a written statement of religious or philosophical objection, also modifies the process for medical exemptions. Currently, medical exemptions require approval from the state immunization officer, but the new law would allow healthcare providers to submit testimony to schools if they believe certain vaccines may be harmful to a child’s health.
Opponents of the bill, including medical professionals and some state officials, argue that the government has a compelling interest in mandating vaccinations to protect public health. The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which oversees 4,600 students, has stated it would continue to require vaccinations at its schools, regardless of the exemption law. The diocesan spokesperson, Tim Bishop, explained that the diocese “has always maintained our constitutional right to order our schools as we see fit in accord with our beliefs,” according to the Associated Press.
With this vote, West Virginia is on track to join the majority of US states in offering religious and philosophical exemptions to vaccination mandates. If the bill is passed by the House, it will mark a pivotal moment in the state’s approach to vaccine policy.
