Gov. Jim Justice had a lot on his plate this week, as he scrambled to handle the hundreds of bills that crossed his desk for a signature, veto or to remain untouched. In the midst of it all, Justice made an important decision — and one that was absolutely correct.

Justice vetoed House Bill 5105, which would have eliminated the vaccine requirements for public virtual schools, private schools and parochial schools.

He ignored the insanity coming from those lawmakers who genuinely seem to be working against West Virginia residents these days, and instead listened to the input from educated and experienced medical experts who understood the danger.

“Since this legislation was passed, I have heard constant, strong opposition to this legislation from our State’s medical community,” Justice said in his veto letter. “The overwhelming majority that have voiced their opinion believe that this legislation will do irreparable harm by crippling childhood immunity to diseases such as mumps and measles.”

Rather than allow the Mountain State to slip backward on the one issue we handle better than any other state, Justice took a stand.

“West Virginia is way ahead of the pack in protecting our children from preventable diseases like the measles, and in this matter, I will defer to our licensed medical professionals who have come forward overwhelmingly to say this bill could and likely would result in reduced immunity and harm to West Virginia’s kids,” Justice said. “Our kids are our future. They are our most important resource, and I will protect them with everything I have.”

It is a necessary point. Those who pretended their priority was protecting children only when it suited the rest of their political agenda should take note.