A bill working its way through the Iowa legislature would ban state school districts from enacting COVID vaccine mandates for students and staff.
The proposal has already passed out of the state House Education committee last week and is set to go up for debate in March.
(See House Bill 2020 HERE.)
Per WHO Channel 13:
There are little to no schools requiring COVID-19 vaccines from students, only one postsecondary school requires it; which is Grinnell College. A sponsor of the bill said that he is hearing about schools possibly wanting to mandate it in the future.
“So there are schools out there that are,” said State Representative Henry Stone (R) from Forest City. “We have heard rumors and words that schools are trying to implement this possibly mandate, now that any 5 and older (can get the vaccine).”
Opposing Democrats say a blanket ban is wrong and that mandates should only be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Iowa’s House Speaker, Pat Grassley (R, 50th Dist.), said that the coronavirus vaccine is nothing like that of other vaccines and should not be treated like the others.
“And you know everyone says well we have other vaccines and other things that you have to have,” said Grassley. ““Well, number one there are exemptions for those. But also, it is a fairly unique circumstance being on a trial basis. Not sure we really know what those long-term impacts are.”
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Tags: Commentary coronavirus COVID Education Iowa schools
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