MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A Circuit Court judge in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle has issued a formal order explaining his decision to prohibit religious exemptions for school-required vaccinations.
Berkeley County Circuit Judge Michael Lorensen wrote that while families have the constitutional right to practice their religion, that liberty does not extend to endangering public health by exposing the broader community to communicable diseases.
The ruling reinforces West Virginia’s long-standing vaccination policy, which requires children to be immunized before attending public schools. Unlike many other states, West Virginia does not allow exemptions based on religious beliefs, a law that has been the subject of repeated legal challenges.
Lorensen’s order emphasizes the state’s interest in protecting students and the public from outbreaks, noting that vaccines are a proven safeguard against preventable diseases.
Attorneys for families seeking religious exemptions have not yet said whether they plan to appeal the decision.
