Vaccines and public schools are as West Virginian as fireflies in July or a cicada’s hum in August. They're as much a part of us as mountains. We don’t just support them, we defend them like a mama bear protecting her cubs. And we’re not backing down.
But here comes Gov. Patrick Morrisey. He didn’t get the memo. He’s on an ideological island. He scoured the country for a doctor willing to betray their medical training to back him. He couldn’t find one. So, he found Arvin Singh from Maryland — who isn’t even a medical doctor. The new secretary of health has an Ed.D., not an M.D or D.O. Let that sink in. It’s a blatant middle finger to science, and to us.
Vaccines aren’t Democratic or Republican ideas. They are common sense. Vaccines and public schools are two issues transcending politics. We embrace vaccines the way kids cannonball into a public pool on Memorial Day -- with vigor. But Morrisey is blowing that up. He's slashing school funding. He's undermining vaccines. It’s state sabotage.
Ask an elderly West Virginian. They’ll tell you what it was like before vaccines. Iron lungs. Polio. Ribs snapped by coughing fits. Brains hemorrhaging from impact. Vaccines prevented tiny caskets.
And Morrisey wants to drag us back to that nightmare, to that hell. It's shortsighted, selfish stupidity.
I’m not the only one thinking this. A 2024 poll from the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce found overwhelming support for childhood vaccines. Even 82% of self-identified conservatives were on board. So, why is Morrisey still pushing this garbage?
This is the perfect storm of two hot debates: public education and public health. Twin pillars of democracy with a key word: public. It’s a bellwether moment. A fork in the road of who owns West Virginia: one millionaire governor or West Virginians.
This isn’t just policy. It’s philosophy. What society are we? One that protects everyone or one where a few can opt out of the collective?
Newsflash: Freedom has guardrails. Don’t be fooled. You can’t do whatever you like. Your freedom ends when it tramples someone’s safety. Grow up. Freedom does not mean infecting others.
Public schools are where kids from every background come together. That only works if we keep them safe.
Take Maxwell, my friend’s son. He’s a special-needs child in Kanawha County. His mom, Marisa Jackson, is part of a lawsuit — led by the ACLU and Mountain State Justice — challenging Morrisey’s power grab. Their case argues the governor’s executive order defies the Legislature (which supported vaccines).
Maxwell has FOXG1 syndrome. If he gets sick, he could die. He depends on herd immunity. And he’s guaranteed a thorough and efficient education, like every other kid. Our gold-standard vaccine laws protect him.
Five states permit only medical exemptions for school vaccine mandates. We’re proudly one of them. Feels like the first time we excel in a national ranking. We’re sick and tired of coming in last in health, education, jobs and air and water quality. Am I right? I thought West Virginia was trying to pull ourselves out of the Dark Ages. We can’t go back.
Vaccines are collective acts of care. Don’t want one? Go to a private school that doesn't require them, or homeschool. Getting vaccinated protects not just your child, but your neighbor’s baby. Aging parent. Teachers.
Let’s be clear: Vaccines are not government tyranny. They are how we show up for each other. The Golden Rule. We are our brother’s keeper. This is a mandate from the people.
And if you’re not angry yet, you’re not paying attention.
Paula Kaufman is an educator living in Randolph County.Â
