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West Virginia Reinstates Vaccine Mandate Amid Legal Battle

12/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The West Virginia Board of Education reinstated its directive prohibiting religious exemptions to school vaccination requirements after a stay issued by the state Supreme Court.
Judge Michael Froble ruled that parents could opt out of vaccinations on religious grounds.
A class-action lawsuit represents 570 families seeking religious exemptions, highlighting the ongoing dispute.
Governor Patrick Morrisey hailed the ruling as a victory for families.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. has mandated vaccinations since the 1850s, beginning with smallpox in Massachusetts. The Supreme Court upheld this authority in Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905). Recent tensions, highlighted by a class-action lawsuit involving 570 families in West Virginia, reflect ongoing debates over parental rights and public health, particularly after the 2016 ruling affirming mandatory vaccinations for school attendance.

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Story summary

The West Virginia Board of Education reinstated its directive prohibiting religious exemptions to school vaccination requirements after a stay issued by the state Supreme Court.
Judge Michael Froble ruled that parents could opt out of vaccinations on religious grounds.
A class-action lawsuit represents 570 families seeking religious exemptions, highlighting the ongoing dispute.
Governor Patrick Morrisey hailed the ruling as a victory for families.

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