Iowa bill ending vaccine rules for schools puts politics ahead of protecting children

Protecting children is a shared value of most adults. A newborn can’t leave the hospital unless they’re buckled into an approved car seat. We childproof our houses. We gasp the first time they swing too high and move closer to catch them if they fly out. When they’re tweens and teens, we stay up sweating until they’re home. We insist on seat belts, driver’s training, and helmets for bicycle riding.

At school, there are tornado, fire, and lockdown drills. There are lists of people approved to pick up students at the end of the day. Schools warn parents not to send a sick child to school.

We’re protective and cautious.

That’s why when there’s a jarring and reckless bill introduced in the Iowa Legislature it’s time to take off the partisan blinders and focus on our shared values to protect our children.

House File 2171 wipes out immunization requirements for enrolling in school, a mandate in place for decades. If passed, Iowa would be the first state to take this reckless step. It would put kids, educators, and school visitors at high risk, and drag Iowa back to a time when serious childhood diseases ran rampant.

In 1905 the Supreme Court allowed states to mandate vaccinations for enrollment in school. All 50 states adopted mandates based on the best science and that continues today. Currently, the basic immunization requirements in Iowa include diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, polio, measles, rubella, hepatitis B, varicella and meningococcal disease. In Iowa, like most states, parents may seek exemptions for religious or medical reasons.

Public health officials are strongly warning against passing this bill. Chaney Yeast, a spokesperson for Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, told Iowa Public Radio, “This bill is very concerning to pediatricians. This is the bill that scares them the most about children’s health.”

So, why are Iowa Republican Legislators trying to undo decades of proven protection for our children?

The answer is partisan politics trumps protection.

Vaccine skepticism has been around for 200 years. But those skeptics were rejected because government leadership listened to science and parents made the judgment they were less afraid of the vaccine than of the disease. Also, vaccines worked, and through herd immunity, virtually wiped out many childhood diseases.

The most recent round of vaccine denial and skepticism began during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Donald Trump initiated “Operation Warp Speed,” a public and private partnership to develop vaccines. It worked, and three vaccines became available. To many, this marked the biggest achievement of the Trump presidency.

But the “Master of Marketing” missed marketing gold and a chance to silence vaccine deniers. He could have celebrated the success of “Operation Warp Speed” and become “savor of the world,” but instead he listened to the vaccine deniers who spun conspiracy theories and spread fear. They also peddled unscientific cures like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.

Imagine what would have happened if Trump had fully embraced vaccines and masks. He could have promoted taking a “Trump shot” and emblazoned his name on each mask provided free. His followers would have willingly lined up for shots and wore masks proudly. Trump’s enemies would not have rejected his shots or his masks because they believed in science. It would have limited partisan political fighting about vaccines.

What should be done to prevent this dangerous bill from passing?

Superintendents and school board members need to sound the alarm by bluntly communicating with Republican legislators. At legislative forums, this should be the first item on every agenda.

Each school board, education association, and PTA should pass a formal resolution against this bill and contact Republican legislators.

Hold each Republican Legislator accountable for this vote.

Protecting kids outweighs partisan politics. Let’s work together as Iowans to send that message.

Bruce Lear taught for 11 years and represented educators as an Iowa State Education Association Regional Director for 27 years until he retired. He lives in Sioux City. BruceLear2419@gmail.com