As measles returns to the United States, Iowa Republicans want to remove school vaccine requirements shown to reduce spread of deadly viruses.
Iowa Republicans advanced legislation Wednesday that would make Iowa the first state in the nation to completely eliminate vaccine requirements for K-12 students, marking a dramatic shift from nearly five decades of public health policy.
Under Iowa law, K-12 students are required to be vaccinated for diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, polio (poliomyelitis), measles (rubeola), rubella, and varicella. Like most states, Iowa has a system already in place that allows families to exempt their students from the vaccine schedule for medical reasons or for religious beliefs.
However, anti-vaccine advocates, often fueled by vaccine misinformation, have placed a target on these requirements.
This newest push comes after Iowa Republicans passed a law last year requiring schools to prominently advertise vaccine exemptions. It was signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May. That bill laid the groundwork for this year’s effort to eliminate the requirement entirely.
The bill, introduced by state Rep. Zach Dieken, R-Granville, strikes from Iowa Code “elementary and secondary” requirements but leaves in place language requiring these vaccines for licensed child care centers.
If signed into law, Iowa would beat Florida to a full cancellation of vaccine requirements. Last fall, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo likened the mandates to “slavery,” saying in a news conference that the state would end “all of them, every last one of them.”
All states currently require students entering public schools to be vaccinated. This helps reduce the spread of diseases and increases vaccination rates. No state requires the COVID-19 vaccine for school entry.
A KFF report found higher exemption rates from school vaccination requirements are associated with lower vaccination rates and increased risk for disease outbreaks.
A long list of medical groups were present for the committee meeting to oppose the measure. Even more filed lobbyist declarations against the measure. These included representatives from the Iowa Medical Society, American Academy of Pediatrics, Blank Children’s Hospital, Broadlawns Medical Center, Iowa Nurses Association, as well as groups representing non-medical groups like county governments and school boards that warned removing requirements would lower vaccination rates and increase disease outbreaks.
The move to ditch requirements comes as a measles outbreak tears through South Carolina. NPR reports a total of 876 confirmed cases have been confirmed in the state, the biggest outbreak the US has seen in decades. Nine cases were identified in Iowa last year. The last, from an infant in Polk County who was too young to be vaccinated for the highly contagious virus.
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Removing vaccine requirements isn’t the only idea Iowa Republicans are pushing this year. Here’s around up of a few we’re watching:
DISMANTLING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION (HSB 668) – The bill would eliminate affirmative action requirements across state government, universities, and schools. The bill also removes provisions preventing discrimination based on citizenship in professional licensing.
EXPANDING “DON’T SAY GAY” (HF 2121) – Iowa Republicans have already prohibited instruction that mentions LGBTQ people for grades K through 6. A new bill would extend Iowa’s prohibition on “gender theory or sexual orientation” instruction through 12th grade for school districts, charter schools, and innovation zones.
SEVERING LIBRARY PARTNERSHIPS (HSB 636) – This bill would prohibit school districts from partnering with public libraries or allowing mobile libraries on school property, closing what supporters call a “loophole” that gives students access to books outside school control.
LIMITING LOCAL CIVIL RIGHTS (HSB 664) – After the Iowa Legislature removed civil protections from transgender Iowans last year, some local governments passed ordinances that created protected categories for those Iowans. This bill would preempt local governments from doing so.
FLAG COMPLIANCE MANDATE (HSB 634) – After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated last year, Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered flags half mast. Some local governments including Johnson County made headlines when they declined to lower the flag, citing Kirk’s long record of racist remarks. These include his promotion of “the great replacement” theory and line from 2024: “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, boy, I hope he’s qualified.” The bill requires local governments to fly flags at half-staff when directed by the governor, with the attorney general authorized to initiate legal action against noncompliant entities.
