West Virginia takes stand for medical freedom: Gov. Morrisey's executive order just the beginning

However, an executive order, while powerful, is not enough. That is why we in the Legislature will take the next step this session to codify this order into law, ensuring future administrations cannot simply erase these protections with the stroke of a pen. West Virginians deserve long-term guarantees their medical freedoms will be preserved, and that’s exactly what we intend to deliver.

The Case for Vaccine Freedom

West Virginia has historically had some of the most stringent vaccine mandates in the country, barring any religious or personal exemptions for school-aged children. Only a handful of other states (California, Maine and New York among them) have similarly draconian policies. Meanwhile, 45 other states allow some form of religious or philosophical exemption. These exemptions acknowledge a simple truth: parents, not the government, should be the ultimate decision-makers in their children’s healthcare.

The fundamental principle behind vaccine freedom is informed consent — a bedrock of ethical medical practice. The right to accept or decline any medical intervention must always rest with the individual or their guardian. No one should be forced into a medical procedure under threat of losing access to education, employment or other basic rights.

Moreover, the one-size-fits-all approach to vaccines ignores critical medical realities. Some individuals have religious objections to vaccines developed using aborted fetal cell lines. Others have experienced or have family histories of severe vaccine reactions, yet under West Virginia’s previous policy they were left without options. Even as the rest of the country moved toward greater medical choice, West Virginia doubled down on coercion — until now.

Science Supports Individual Choice

Contrary some opponents’ claims, vaccine choice does not threaten public health. Many states with vaccine exemptions have comparable or better health outcomes than those that enforce rigid mandates. Herd immunity is not solely dependent on universal compliance, and the idea that a child with a religious exemption poses a greater risk than a vaccinated child carrying an active infection is fundamentally flawed.

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the dangers of unchecked government mandates. The rushed rollout of experimental vaccines, combined with censorship of alternative medical opinions, created deep public distrust. Americans saw firsthand that government agencies, pharmaceutical companies and public health officials are not infallible.

When the same bureaucrats who dismissed concerns about adverse reactions later admitted they had downplayed risks, it reaffirmed the need for individuals to make their own healthcare decisions without coercion.

Codifying Vaccine Freedom into Law

Governor Morrisey’s executive order is an important first step, but it must be made permanent through legislation. If we fail to act, a future governor with a different ideology could strip away these newfound freedoms as quickly as they were granted.

That’s why I, along with my conservative colleagues in the Legislature, will be introducing and supporting a bill to enshrine vaccine freedom into West Virginia law.

This legislation would: Guarantee religious and conscientious exemptions for all vaccine requirements in schools and workplaces; ensure no individual faces discrimination or exclusion based on their vaccination status; and strengthen protections against government overreach, preventing unelected bureaucrats from imposing mandates that strip away personal choice.

West Virginia can lead on this issue, standing firm in the belief that government exists to serve its people, not to dictate their medical decisions.

This fight is about more than just vaccines — it’s about defending individual liberty, parental rights and the principles of limited government. If we allow government control over our medical choices, where does it end?

Conservatives in West Virginia must unite to push this legislation forward and ensure no family is ever forced to choose between their faith, their conscience and their child’s education.

Along with complete informed consent, parents must have the ability to decide what is best for their children without coercion and without losing their freedoms.

Medical freedom is meaningless if government policies create barriers that punish those who exercise it. True liberty means the ability to make informed decisions without fear of losing rights, opportunities or participation in society.

Governor Morrisey has taken a decisive step in the right direction. Now, it’s up to the Legislature to finish the job. The people of West Virginia deserve nothing less than full, permanent protection of their medical freedoms. I am committed to making that a reality.