West Virginia Senate OKs bill allowing for religious and philosophical vaccine exemptions

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Source: Associated Press

West Virginia Senate OKs bill allowing for religious and philosophical vaccine exemptions

By LEAH WILLINGHAM
Updated 5:14 PM EST, February 21, 2025

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia senators voted to dismantle one of the nation’s strictest school vaccination policies Friday by greenlighting an exemption for families who say mandated inoculations conflict with their religious or philosophical beliefs.

If approved by the House, the bill is expected to be signed into law by Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who has made allowing religious exemptions to vaccines a priority of his administration.

West Virginia is currently one of only a tiny minority of U.S. states that only allows medical exemptions for vaccinations. The state’s policy has long been heralded by medical experts as among the most protective in the country for kids.

The bill’s supporters say not allowing for exemptions is unconstitutional and interferes with children’s right to an education.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-west-virginia-exemptions-religious-312579131bce083f2d5afca601971400