Iowa Republicans are pushing back against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Will they take on the measles too? – Des Moines Register

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Iowa is among a group of about a dozenstates that tookaction in 2021 to ban employer mandates or require exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Republicans, who control both chambers of the Iowa Legislature, have indicated that a push for more legislation to push back against potential coronavirus vaccine requirements is likely.But Republican leadersdon't appear as eager to revisit other requirements, such as immunizationrequirements for students.

Some groups in Iowa thatare pushing back against COVID-19 vaccinerequirements have also pushed for broader exemptions for childhood vaccinationsand gathering more information on childhood vaccines.

Across the U.S., Republicans are likely to take more steps to oppose mandates while Democrats could try to strengthen vaccine requirements. Some national political observerssay they don't expect to see it translateintoa significant push to alter other vaccination requirements like childhood immunization rules.

"I don't expect itto spill over into childhood immunizations and vaccinations for school," said Tim Storey, CEO of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

For subscribers: Learn more about what Iowa Republicans plan to do with COVID-19 mandates in this subscriber-only story.

State Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, who chairs the House State Government Committee, said he's looking to keep thefocus on vaccine mandates narrow.

"I've not had a single human being approachme otherwise," Kaufmann said.

And Informed Choice Iowa vice president Brei Johnson, who has helped lead the fight against COVID-19 vaccine mandates,also said she sees COVID-19 vaccine mandates as the morepressing issue.

"I feel like people first need to be alleviated (of) that," she said."You know, secure their job, keep their job, apply for a jobwithout the medical discrimination that we're seeinghappening, and exposure to their personal health information."

More: A year after the first COVID shot, nearly 1.8M Iowans are fully vaccinated. But more work remains to end the pandemic

That doesn't mean legislation couldn't appear like it has in years past.Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, didnt rule out additional proposals. However, healso didn't indicate it is a high priority for Senate Republicans.

I would say that the COVID vaccine ... shined a light on all the vaccine policy,Whitvertold the Des Moines Registerin mid-December. We'll certainlytake a look at that as people file different bills. But I don't have a billin particular thatI'm looking at."

Ian Richardson covers the Iowa Statehouse for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at irichardson@registermedia.com, at 515-284-8254, or on Twitter at @DMRIanR.

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Iowa Republicans are pushing back against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Will they take on the measles too? - Des Moines Register