Governor Responds to School Board Vaccine Guidance

On Wednesday, the West Virginia Board of Education advised schools to follow existing vaccination guidelines without religious exemptions.

The decision contradicts an executive order issued by Gov. Patrick Morrisey in January to allow religious and philosophical exemptions to the state’s school vaccination requirements.

Soon after the conclusion of the board meeting, Alex Lanfranconi – Morrisey’s communications director – said in a post on X the board is trampling on the religious liberties of children and ignoring the state’s religious freedom law.

“The West Virginia Board of Education is trampling on the religious liberties of children, ignoring the state’s religious freedom law, and trying to make the state an extreme outlier on vaccine policy when there isn’t a valid public policy reason to do so,” Lanfranconi said via X. “This decision isn’t about public health — it’s about making West Virginia more like liberal states such as California and New York.”

Lanfranconi’s post was quickly shared on Morrisey’s official X account.  

“While under current law, the Board doesn’t report to the Governor, today’s actions show the dangers of having an unelected state school board unaccountable to the people,“ Lanfranconi said.

Members of the state board of education are selected by the governor for nine year terms.

The state legislature passed House Bill 2755 this year to bring the state board of education under legislative oversight and control. At its May meeting, the board voted to pursue litigation to contest the constitutionality of the bill, which will become effective law in July. 

“Despite today’s wrong-headed decision, we will continue supporting West Virginia families who rely upon our religious freedom law,” Lanfranconi said. “At the Governor’s direction, the Department of Health will continue to grant religious exemptions consistent with the state’s religious freedom law.”

Thursday afternoon the West Virginia Board of Education released an official statement, clarifying its Wednesday decision.

“The WVBE directed the state superintendent of schools to notify all school districts to follow the law that has been in effect since 1937,” the statement says. “This is in line with the actions of the West Virginia Legislature during the 2025 regular session which did not vote in favor of religious exemptions for vaccines.”

“The intent of the state board is to do what is best for the 241,000 children, 23,000 educators and 15,000 service personnel in our 629 public schools. This includes taking the important steps of protecting the school community from the real risk of exposure to litigation that could result from not following vaccination laws.”