The West Virginia Board of Education today announces the reinstatement of its policy enforcing compulsory vaccination laws for school attendance, following a stay granted by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. This action halts a lower court ruling that had temporarily allowed religious exemptions to vaccine requirements.
On December 2, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a stay on Raleigh County Circuit Judge Michael Froble's November 26, 2025, order, which had granted permanent injunctive relief to families seeking religious opt-outs from mandatory vaccines. The stay pauses the lower court's decision, restoring the state's longstanding policy that permits only medical exemptions for school immunizations.
West Virginia remains one of the few states without religious or philosophical exemptions to school vaccine mandates, a policy aimed at protecting public health and preventing outbreaks of preventable diseases. The reinstated policy applies to all students enrolling in public schools, requiring proof of vaccination unless a medical exemption is approved.
State Board of Education President Paul Hardesty stated, "This stay brings clarity and stability to our schools. We prioritize the health and safety of all students, and this decision supports our efforts to maintain high vaccination rates."
The Supreme Court will now fully review the case to determine the future of religious exemptions. In the interim, county boards of education must adhere to the compulsory vaccination law and reject any religious waiver forms.
The Board encourages parents to consult healthcare providers for vaccination information and exemptions where applicable.