Some panic, while others celebrate as the Iowa House continues debates on vaccine requirements for Iowa schools. Concerns about public health arise as concerns about an overstep in government power continue.

Iowa House File 2171 would end vaccine requirements for elementary and secondary schools. The current list of required vaccinations includes diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, rubella, and varicella. 

“Vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective, and there is a reason why a vaccine requirement started in schools to begin with, and that is because diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella spread very easily, especially in confined spaces with a lot of people in them,” Iowa House Representative of district 42 Heather Matson said.

While some are in full support of vaccines, there is still lingering hesitancy around the safety of vaccines.

“You might get sick from something, but your body has an immune response,” Iowa House Representative of District 88, Helena Hayes, said. “There are a lot of things in the vaccines themselves that people inject; a lot of chemicals, toxic substances. There are children who have adverse reactions and have even died from being vaccinated too early.”

While there are many vaccines required for Iowa students, parents still have the option when it comes to COVID-19 and flu vaccines. If House File 2171 were to pass, individuals would still have the opportunity to receive every vaccine they want, but it would not be required. Graphic created by Lily Black using Flourish.

The Ankeny Community School District (ACSD) has guidelines and policies regarding the health of the student body, including instructions for how parents can submit immunization reports.

“We [ACSD] believe that working together with families to keep our students healthy is the best way for them to access all free and public education. So no matter what the law is on it, we will be working with families to communicate that,” ACSD Chief of Communications Samantha Aukes said.

The ACSD is prepared to make adjustments if the law were to change, and is dedicated to maintaining clear communication with the community.

“Our current policy states that unless there’s an exemption, we need to receive each year a list of immunizations that’s put together from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services,” Aukes said.

Under current Iowa law, there are circumstances in which students could be exempted from vaccine requirements.

“One [exemption] is a medical exemption, so if a doctor signs a note saying that you’re exempt from receiving vaccines. Religious exemption, which is a parent-signed exemption, or a provisional exemption, which is saying I need a little bit more time to get this done,” Aukes said.

Some question the need for a requirement when exemptions are available, and the vaccines are not technically required due to exemptions.

“There is no such thing that you have to have any immunizations in order to be eligible and qualified to go to school. What exists right now are exemptions. The purpose of this bill is so we could dispel the idea that has been put out by schools that you cannot go to school without having all of your shots,” Hayes said.

Critics of the proposed bill argue that ending vaccination requirements would be a danger to children in schools. Meanwhile, supporters argue that the government shouldn’t be able to force children to receive vaccinations they don’t want.

“It’s important to distinguish between personal health and public health. There are decisions that we can make about our own health that impact only us, and there are decisions that are made around public health that impact other people,” Matson said.

Legislators have the difficult responsibility of balancing the decisions that affect the general public and allowing constituents to make their own personal decisions.

“I am an elected official, and I want to be able to protect people’s rights to medical freedom. That’s more important than pushing demands by health departments,” Hayes said.

According to the National Library of Medicine, vaccines have a rocky track record with their credibility. There are recent studies that have debunked the alleged issues caused by vaccines. However, vaccine hesitancy still remains.

“I do have concerns that we have a Secretary of Health and Human Services nationally who is known to be and has expressed that he has concerns about vaccines. I don’t think that that helps; it just continues that skepticism,” Matson said.

For some, the uncertainty of vaccines is hard to digest and makes a large impact on their health decisions.

“The industry itself cannot be held liable for injuries due to the vaccines. Any harm or death that comes from taking a vaccine, the vaccine industry is not liable for,” Hayes said.