Judge Upholds WV Religious Vaccine Exemptions Order

A Raleigh County judge has issued a preliminary injunction upholding Governor Patrick Morrisey’s executive order granting religious exemptions from vaccination requirements for public school students in West Virginia, allowing affected children to attend school as the legal challenge continues. This marks a legal victory for Morrisey, who cites the state's Equal Protection for Religion Act in support of his stance. The ruling follows lawsuits from parents whose children were denied exemptions and has prompted opposition from groups such as West Virginia Families for Vaccines, who argue it could undermine public health protections. Separately, a similar lawsuit brought by immunocompromised students’ families and supported by the ACLU was dismissed in Kanawha County on procedural grounds. These developments highlight ongoing legal battles and public health debates over vaccine mandates and religious freedoms in the state. Further legal proceedings are expected as the dispute continues.