Confusing federal guidance is complicating Iowa parents’ right to make vaccine decisions

According to a recent report, just 10 of Iowa's 99 counties have reached the recommended vaccination rates for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

Given how polarizing an issue vaccines have become in recent years, it's understandable that families might be hesitant to get their kids immunized. But regardless of where they stand on the matter, there's no question that parents should be the ones who get to make those decisions.

Unfortunately, that freedom is now under threat from policymakers in Washington who are both sowing confusion about vaccines and proposing changes that could make them harder to access. Together, those actions deprive Iowa parents of the ability to make their own decisions.

It's no surprise that so many Iowans are unsure about childhood vaccinations. Especially in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdowns and the Biden administration's heavy-handed vaccine mandates, a little skepticism toward the public health establishment is more than warranted.

And yet, at a time when lawmakers and public officials ought to be doing their part to reestablish trust on questions like vaccines, many are clouding the issue even further. And the result is that parents are often left confused and frightened about the best course of action.

Chief among them is Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Under his leadership, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently revised the childhood vaccine schedule, reducing the number of recommended routine vaccines from 17 to 11. Among the vaccines that are no longer recommended — except for "high risk" patients — are shots against flu, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and meningitis.

By removing these vaccines from the "routine" category, the agency has increased the likelihood that insurers and other payers will drop coverage for them in the future. The policy change has also created uncertainty, leading some to believe the shots are less effective or safe than previously believed — which isn't the case.

Reforms like these pose a serious threat to parents' autonomy. Families who choose to vaccinate their kids shouldn't have that decision obstructed or confused by the government.

The vast majority of Americans across the political spectrum share this view. Roughly three-quarters of the country believes vaccines should be widely available, according to a recent poll. The same share believes that childhood vaccinations are safe, another survey found.

President Donald Trump is one of them. "They just pure and simple work," he recently commented. "They're not controversial at all."

A growing number of Iowans agree with the president. Despite the relatively low rates of overall vaccination in our state, the number of families that chose to immunize their children against measles jumped by 23% in 2025.

That decision is certainly reasonable.

Vaccines like the MMR shot are among the most rigorously tested medicines available today. Not only must these vaccines undergo multiple rounds of testing and clinical trials before earning federal approval. But even after a vaccine is approved, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration continue to monitor it to ensure it remains safe.

In the case of MMR, the vaccine has been in regular use for decades, with over 230 million doses administered in the United States alone.

But regardless of what medical interventions parents choose for their children, one thing is beyond question: Vaccines are too important to fall victim to politics. When deciding whether to vaccinate their kids, Iowans should be free to weigh the evidence, consult their doctors, and make that decision for themselves.

Federal policies that deny parents this freedom — whether in the form of mandates or restrictions on vaccine access — are both dangerous and unnecessary.

Josh Steuterman is a Des Moines resident and health plan recruiting manager. He partners with clients to save money and resources while providing world class health care solutions for their organization.