Meeting Public Comments

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

02-03-2026

Grace Rogers

AGAINST. Why is this bill being considered? Vaccines are studied and approved by medical professionals to be used to keep the population at large healthy. Have medical professionals completely changed course on years of scientific study and advancement? If not, I do not understand how the Iowa legislature could claim that not requiring vaccines is in the best interest of Iowa's children and school staff. At a PUBLIC school, there have to be measures to keep the PUBLIC safe and those include mandatory vaccines for children attending. Somehow IA legislators have fallen so far down the antivax rabbit hole, that they're willing to put the health and safety of our public school children even MORE at risk than they already are. Do better. DO NOT PASS THIS BILL.

02-03-2026

Kevin Hendress

Fully support this, a students medical records should be private between the doctor and patient. The school has NO business getting involved in the medical treatment or choices of the students. Give us our privacy and our freedoms that we deserve!

02-03-2026

Carrie Wright

I support this bill. Medical decisions shouldnt be tied to a childs access to education. Parents, not schools or the state, are responsible for their childrens healthcare, and those conversations belong between families and their doctors. When mandates replace choice, trust erodes, and trust is critical to strong public health outcomes.

02-03-2026

Maralyn Schulze [None]

Against. Why would you make a decision that goes against the science. We are already seeing record high pertussis and measles cases. This especially hurts vulnerable people who arent able to get vaccinated. Stop pushing this right wing anti vax agenda.

02-04-2026

B Kauffman

What an asinine and dangerous bill. Most of those commenting that would approve this "no science" bill have been immunized, but yet they refuse to have their kids immunized... just insane and dangerous to their own kids. Maybe charge these parents should their kid die and let them pay the full hospital/doctor bills for those unvaccinated. For once, give a darn about others, give a darn about your own kids and grandkids. Immunizations have been around for years and years and years and we're all just fine. Follow science for God's sake.

02-04-2026

Deidre Wahlin

Reject HF2171It's crazy that this bill is even being considered. Why would we go backwards on protecting people's lives?! There is a direct correlation between vaccine denial and hesitancy and the increase in the prevalence of measles to the highest since 1991!! Measles was once declared eliminated because of the consistent use of effective and safe vaccines.

02-04-2026

Monica Cox

OPPOSE this bill! Vaccine requirements are put in place to protect children, not strip away freedoms. Decisions are still made with the medical providers and there are forms in place for people who do not wish to vaccinate. That choice has never changed. Eliminating this requirement will put even more children at risk for long eradicated diseases as they continue to make a comeback. If you think it's not a problem, talk to the generation that survived measles or smallpox. Kids are not being excluded from education for not having vaccines, but they will be excluded from education if they're hospitalized (or worse) from vaccinepreventable diseases! OPPOSE.

02-04-2026

Patricia Benson

OPPOSE. Parents say they want to make medical decisions for their child and disagree with accredited schools enforcing mandatory vaccine requirements. Then they can opt out of attending these schools and exercise their freedom of choice (Didn't the legislature pass school vouchers? There's their choice. Other options exist for educating their child.). Meanwhile accredited schools can continue to follow proven science and do all they can to protect students from communicable diseases that are preventable with the use of modern medical interventions like vaccines, thus showing they are accreditated because they understand the concepts of education, critical research analysis, societal obligations, & science.

02-04-2026

Patricia Benson

02-04-2026

Patricia Benson

02-04-2026

Hannah Doyle

My daughter has a medical vaccine exemption. It sounds so simple, but its actually 100 different hoops to jump through, gas lighting, shame and questioning looks going through the process to get one and then filing it with the school. School is about education, not mandating medical treatments. Its not the business of the school what vaccines my daughter can and cannot receive and I firmly believe we have been treated differently or even discriminated against because of her inability to take vaccines.

02-04-2026

Patti Benson

02-04-2026

Keely Guy

Absolutely against this bill. This is legislation that directly causes harm to children. Vaccines have been studied for decades and effectiveness has been proven time and time again. How many more times will we need to argue the effectiveness and safety of vaccines to make legislators understand? Make our schools a safer place, not a more dangerous one.

02-04-2026

Conny Moody [Illinois Public Health Association]

OPPOSE HF2717 As a public health professional, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations are safe and effect and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2717 to protect the health of all children and our communities.

02-04-2026

Patti Benson

"I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can."George Bernard ShawOPPOSE. Parents say they want to make medical decisions for their child and disagree with accredited schools enforcing mandatory vaccine requirements. Then they can opt out of attending these schools and exercise their freedom of choice (Didn't the legislature pass school vouchers? There's their choice. Other options exist for educating their child.). Meanwhile accredited schools can continue to follow proven science and do all they can to protect students from communicable diseases that are preventable with the use of modern medical interventions like vaccines, thus showing they are accreditated because they understand the concepts of education, critical research analysis, societal obligations, & science.

02-04-2026

Angie Phillips

02-04-2026

Megan Hanley

As a public health professional overseeing the infectious disease arm of a local health department, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. My county is already seeing 62% increase in rates of vaccine preventable diseases, with the removal of the statutory requirements in a neighboring state, that number will grow. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations are safe, effective, and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2717 to protect the health of children and our communities.

02-04-2026

Erica DeWald

I am OPPOSED.Im writing from out of state because what happens in Iowa impacts families and public health beyond state linesespecially as people travel, visit relatives, and attend school or community events across the region.Im concerned about HF 2171, which would eliminate Iowas school immunization requirements for K12 students and remove related enrollment and verification provisions. These policies have long helped prevent outbreaks of serious vaccinepreventable diseases like measles and pertussis. Weakening them could lower vaccination rates and put more children at risk.Please oppose HF 2171 and protect Iowas school immunization requirements.

02-04-2026

Valerie Johansen

As a public health professional for over 25 years, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence and real world data has demonstrated that routine childhood immunizations are safe and effect and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults, while also protecting those who cannot receive vaccines and our most vulnerable residents. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of all our states and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2717 to protect the health of children, our communities and our futures.

02-04-2026

Cathy Ferguson [Lee County Health Department]

OPPOSE HF2171 As a 32 year public health professional, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations are safe,effective and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to do what is in the best interest of our children and reject HF2171.

02-04-2026

Amanda Pruitt

OPPOSE HF2717 As a public health professional, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations are safe and effective and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2717 to protect the health of children and our communities.

02-04-2026

Melissa Spangler [Ogle County Health Department]

As a public health professional, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations are safe and effect and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2171 to protect the health of children and our communities.

02-04-2026

Kathryn Sandy-Miller

I am a healthcare provider, advocate, and parent. As a healthcare professional who cares deeply about the wellbeing of children in our community, I am reaching out to discuss proposed legislation HF 2171 currently in the Iowa legislation. Im concerned about HF 2171, which would eliminate Iowas school immunization requirements for K12 students and remove related enrollment and verification provisions. These policies have long helped prevent outbreaks of serious vaccinepreventable diseases like measles and pertussis. Weakening them could lower vaccination rates and put more children at risk.Please oppose HF 2171 and protect Iowas school immunization requirements.

02-04-2026

Bruce Alexander

I OPPOSE this bill. Vaccination has been shown with thousands of studies to be effective and safe in reducing disease and death for many communicable diseases. Look at measles, a disease my generation thought we would never see again. There are cases in the U.S. and Iowa. One of my family member had polio. Please do not make a politicial decision that will endanger all Iowa children (and adults) by passing this bill.

02-04-2026

Kristin Fairholm

This change would undermine longstanding public health protections that keep our classrooms and communities safe from vaccinepreventable diseases. Immunization requirements have a proven track record of preventing outbreaks of serious illnesses and protecting vulnerable children who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Removing these protections places students, educators, and families at increased risk and weakens our ability to safeguard public health. I respectfully ask you to vote no on HF 2171.

02-04-2026

Duane Stevens Duane Stevens [Henry County Health Department-Illinois]

OPPOSE HF2171 As a public health professional, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations are safe and effect and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2171 to protect the health of children and our communities.

02-04-2026

Jessica Reggi [Voices for Vaccines]

My name is Dr. Jessica Reggi and I am a boardcertified pediatrician, writing from Chicago, IL. Im urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowas longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions. Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase outbreak risks regionallyespecially as families travel, attend school and sporting events, and move between states. School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools. Please vote NO on HF 2171.

02-04-2026

Letha Martin

Im urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowas longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions. Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase outbreak risks regionallyespecially as families travel, attend school and sporting events, and move between states.School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools. Please vote NO on HF 2171. Protect policies that keep Iowa children and communities safe.Thank you for your time and consideration.

02-04-2026

Tara Bealor [Adams County Health Department]

OPPOSE HF2171 As a public health professional, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrate that routine childhood immunizations are safe and effective and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2171 to protect the health of children and our communities.Please consider the actual impact of the removal of these requirements would be. We are now able to enjoy life without the worry of diseases that many of our grandparents did. Let's keep it that way.

02-04-2026

Elizabeth Squires [self]

02-04-2026

Amy Fox

OPPOSE HF2171 As a public health professional in a neighboring state, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations are safe and effect and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. Our schools and sport teams interact, and our citizens share retail services as points where this interruption in vaccinations would potentially cause outbreaks which strain resources. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2171 to protect the health of children and our communities.

02-04-2026

Sandra Schleicher

As a public health professional and resident of a county in Illinois which borders Iowa, I oppose the attempt of the Iowa legislature to remove the requirements for elementary and secondary student vaccinations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health not only in Iowa, but neighboring states like mine. Vaccines have long proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases that can quickly spread beyond the Iowa borders. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrate that routine childhood immunizations are save and effective and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2171 to protect the health of children, including mine, and our communities.

02-04-2026

Bel Kelly-Russo

Dear Committee Members,My name is Bel, writing from Richmond, VA. Im urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowas longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions.Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase outbreak risks regionallyespecially as families travel, attend school and sporting events, and move between states.School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools.Please vote NO on HF 2171 and protect policies that keep Iowa children and communities safe.

02-04-2026

Katherine Fernandez-Olson

OPPOSE. Why would Iowa consider ignoring decades of scientific research? Vaccines are the most studied biologic in human history and are SAFE. Doing away with vaccine requirements will only serve to make children more vulnerable to disease, especially those who are immunocompromised and can't get vaccinated themselves. Ignoring science will only serve to make our children and our community less safe against completely preventable diseases (diseases that can result in severe morbidity and mortality, by the way). Keeping our children safe starts with striking down this proposal.

02-04-2026

Brian Borah

As a public health professional and a physician, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations are safe and effect and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2717 to protect the health of children and our communities.

02-04-2026

Mickey Rottinghaus

This is a foolhardy suggestion. What could POSSIBLY be the motivation behind ending the commonsense approach of looking out for public health by requiring vaccinations? If you've ever met someone who was the victim of polio (before that vaccine was available), you would never CONSIDER such a law.While many who have experienced chicken pox, measles and rubella recovered with little aftereffect, many MORE had their physical health compromised for the rest of their lives. What level of child endangerment and mortality are you willing to accept responsibility for having caused by not requiring vaccinations? Please vote NO on HF2171. For the sake of children across the state.

02-04-2026

Maurine Neiman

OPPOSE. This bill, if passed, will kill children. My healthy nearly 3year old son and Iowa City resident, JJ NeimanBrown, died suddenly and without warning as a consequence of influenza infection when he was almost three years old, on Feb. 2, 2020. He was vaccinated the best we can do to protect against this dangerous and potentially deadly disease but the flu virus evolves rapidly and is thus an especially challenging one when it comes to vaccination. Accordingly, community vaccination rates need to be high to protect the vulnerable around us: young children, the elderly, and anyone with health issues that leave them immunocompromised or unable to take advantage of vaccines. The same critical role of community protection applies to any other dangerous and easily transmittable disease, from rotavirus to whooping cough. What happens when community protection wanes is exemplified by the current measles outbreaks, which has already needlessly killed children.

02-04-2026

Susana Morphis

My name is Susana, and I am a dietitian and advocate. I work with children with disorders that make them very vulnerable to illness. They are not immunocompromised, but if they do get sick, they could face other complications like hypoglycemia, stroke, or death, I am reaching out to discuss proposed legislation HF 2171 currently in the Iowa Legislature.Im writing from out of state because what happens in Iowa impacts families and public health beyond state linesespecially as people travel, visit relatives, and attend school or community events across the country.Please oppose HF2171 to protect all children.Susana MorphisMilwaukee, Wisconsin

02-04-2026

Dinah Conti

Please reject HF2171. Vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent disease in communities, second only to handwashing. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Public health depends on everyone doing their part. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools makes our state sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, when considering this bill. For the sake of every person, please vote HF2171 down.

02-04-2026

Breyana Williams

My name is Breyana Wil, and I am an advocate at VFV and a constituent in your district. As a public health professional who cares deeply about the wellbeing of children in our community, I am reaching out to discuss proposed legislation HF 2171 currently in the Iowa Legislature.Im writing from out of state because what happens in Iowa impacts families and public health beyond state linesespecially as people travel, visit relatives, and attend school or community events across the region.Im concerned about HF 2171, which would eliminate Iowas school immunization requirements for K12 students and remove related enrollment and verification provisions. These policies have long helped prevent outbreaks of serious vaccinepreventable diseases like measles and pertussis. Weakening them could lower vaccination rates and put more children at risk.Please oppose HF 2171 and protect Iowas school immunization requirements.Thank you for your time and consideration,Breyana Williams

02-04-2026

Edward Nirenberg

The US has always stood as a bastion of freedom throughout the world, and I understand that superficially, it may seem like removing vaccine mandates from K12 schools supports that vision. But this conception is naive because it ignores one of the greatest threats to freedom: disease. Nothing robs of agency quite like it, nothing restricts choices in the way that it does. Nothing is so injurious to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.Vaccination's track record as a public health measure is unassailable. It has led to the elimination and drastic reduction in serious infectious diseases, and school mandates are critical in helping ensure uptake that protects everyone. The benefits of vaccination far exceed its risks. Undermining measures to help ensure high vaccine uptake represents a threat to all of our freedoms.I urge this body to protect our freedoms by voting "no" on this bill.

02-04-2026

Kelsey Marmon

Against. Iowa already allows exemptions, this is unnecessary. Our immunization rates are already subpar, removing the requirements will further hurt those rates. This puts our most vulnerable populations at risk for PREVENTABLE diseases diseases that medical providers don't even see anymore because vaccines are so effective. Please, vote No.

02-04-2026

Jonathan Danker

I oppose this bill because it would do more harm than good. As for example, There has been an increase of measles cases the past year partly due to people not wanting to vaccinate their children. A lack of a vaccine mandate would cause more children to get sick. If they cant get a vaccine, they should get an exemption from their doctor. Only a doctor would tell them if its right for them to get vaccine or not. Please protect Iowa by OPPOSING HF 2171.

02-04-2026

Molly Schintler

As an Iowan who cares deeply about the wellbeing of children in our community,I am in strong opposition to this bill. I am deeply concerned that eliminating school immunization requirements could undermine public health protections that have proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrate that routine childhood immunizations are safe, effective, and critical to maintaining community immunity, especially in settings like schools where children are in close contact. Reducing or removing these requirements may inadvertently contribute to lower vaccination coverage and increase the risk of outbreaks of measles, pertussis, and other serious infections. Weakening these policies could lead to confusion and hesitancy about vaccines among parents and caregivers, ultimately making more children vulnerable to preventable illness.Please put the health of Iowan children first.

02-04-2026

H Denney

OPPOSE. Please reject HF2171. Vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent disease in communities, second only to handwashing. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Public health depends on everyone doing their part. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools makes our state sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, when considering this bill. For the sake of every person, please vote HF2171 down.

02-04-2026

Jordan Drane [Iowa School Nurse Organization]

Dear Committee Members,My name is Jordan Drane, and I am the President of the Iowa School Nurse Organization. I am a school nurse in Bettendorf, IA. Im urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowas longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions.School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases such as measles and pertussis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools.Please vote NO on HF 2171 and protect policies that keep Iowa children and communities safe.Thank you for your time and consideration,Jordan Drane BSN, RN, NCSNPresident, Iowa School Nurse Organizationisno.presidentgmail.com

02-04-2026

Jordan Drane [Iowa School Nurse Organization]

02-04-2026

Brian Davis

I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states. Our country is already seeing increases in rates of vaccine preventable diseases, with the removal of the statutory requirements those numbers will only grow. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrate that routine childhood immunizations are safe, effective, and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2717 to protect the health of children and our communities

02-04-2026

Andrea White

02-04-2026

Liz Leonhard

I'm in support of this bill. It has become aboundantly clear in recent years that vaccines have not been studied the way the general public believes them to have been and they do carry major risks with very minimal accountability when things go wrong. Where there is risk there must be free choice and removing mandates is a step in the right direction. Medical choices should always be based on informed consent and what the individual decides is best for themselves and their families. Vaccines all carry a risk of death, the so called greater good is not worth my child's life.

02-04-2026

Grace Hagen

OPPOSE. Please reject HF2171. Vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent disease in communities, second only to handwashing. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Public health depends on everyone doing their part. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools makes our state sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, when considering this bill. And this sort of law will discourage providers from moving to Iowa to care for our patients. We dont need to make it more difficult to recruit primary care doctors to our state.

02-04-2026

Kathryn Halyko

OPPOSE. Please reject HF2171. Vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent disease in communities, second only to handwashing. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Public health depends on everyone doing their part. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools makes our state sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, whenconsidering this bill. For the sake of every person, please vote HF2171 down.

02-04-2026

Emily Puetz

OPPOSE. Please reject HF2171. Vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent disease in communities, second only to handwashing. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools will make our communities sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, when considering this bill. For the sake of the health of our Iowa communities as a whole, please vote HF2171 down.

02-04-2026

Dan Brink

02-04-2026

Leslie Scofield

I am deeply concerned that this legislation poses a significant risk to the health and safety of Iowa families, particularly our most vulnerable residentschildren, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems. Vaccination policy is not based on opinion or politics. It is built on decades of scientific research, rigorous safety monitoring, and measurable public health outcomes. Vaccines have consistently reduced hospitalizations, longterm complications, and deaths from infectious diseases. These are not abstract benefitsthey are documented, realworld results.As an educator in public health preparedness and response, I have seen firsthand what happens when prevention fails. Infectious diseases spread quickly, overwhelm healthcare systems, disrupt schools and workplaces, and disproportionately harm those least able to protect themselves. Public health policy should reduce preventable harm, not increase it.

02-04-2026

Jennifer Esser

You will lose residents due to this decision. This is what waivers and exemptions already allow for. Unilaterally removing these requirements will force people to make decisions in the best interest of their children and families which will include moving out of state.

02-04-2026

Jennifer Romero [Vaccinate Your Family]

Dear Committee Members,My name is Jenn Romero, I am urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowas school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate enrollment and verification provisions. I do not live in Iowa. What happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase outbreak risks regionallyespecially as families travel, attend school or sporting events, and move between states.School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Eliminating requirements would put more children at risk and create confusion for families and schools.Vote NO on HF 2171 to protect policies that keep Iowa children and communities safe.Thank you for your time and consideration,Jenn RomeroVaccinate Your FamilyNewport News, Virginia

02-04-2026

Ludmila Scott

I strongly support this bill. It's long overdue and should be made into law asap because: True informed consent cannot exist when refusal results in exclusion from education. Consent obtained under threat of penalty is coercion, not consent.Parents are the legally recognized medical decisionmakers for their children, not the state and not school administrators.Mandates erode trust, and trust is essential for public health.Coercion breeds resistance, while respectful dialogue increases engagement and accountability.Most vaccines on the market today do not stop transmission, and do not prevent infection. Any antibody mediated protection is often personal and temporary at best.It puts vaccine conversations back in the rightful place, a doctors office between parents and their doctor.

02-04-2026

Charles Jennissen, MD [Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine]

Oppose HF 2171. The elimination of school immunization requirements will severely undermine public health protections that have proven incredibly effective. Decades of scientific study have found routine childhood immunizations to be safe, and they are critical to maintaining community immunity and preventing devastating outbreaks of these serious infections. Childhood vaccines are one of the greatest medical and public health achievements of the twentieth century. Let's move forward in the twentyfirst century and continue to protect our children. Put the health of children first and support immunization requirements.

02-04-2026

Jennifer Leonhard

Vote yes! Parents and doctors should be in charge of deciding the medical choices for each child based on their own health history. This bill removes the medical decision from the hands of legislators (who have NEVER met these individual children) to the hands of parents and doctors who know each individual case.

02-04-2026

Jennifer Leonhard

02-04-2026

Tricia Peden

02-04-2026

Jessica Rasmussen

02-04-2026

Taylor King

Vehemently against this bill as a pediatrician who has seen children suffer and die from vaccine preventable illnesses. This will put our most vulnerable patient population in danger. Our leaders need to do better, please help protect our children, as well as the other vulnerable populations in our community (elderly, immunocompromised).

02-04-2026

Eli Steenhoek

I am strongly against this bill. Vaccines are proven to be safe and effective. Additionally there are already medical and religious exceptions for vaccines. This will make disease outbreaks worse and threatens the health of Iowans. Many of my family members have autoimmune diseases and they are more susceptible to being impacted by an outbreak. This violates their own personal liberties of living in a community that is safe. I urge you to oppose this bilL!

02-04-2026

Teresa Bomhoff [Interested Citizen]

AGAINST Every parent already has the opportunity to exempt their child from school vaccines. It is and always will be the parent's choice. The required school vaccine schedule helps remind parents to talk to their providers about getting their children's vaccines. Childhood vaccines protect children, families, teachers, our communities, and local resources. Outbreaks mean that parents have to take time off of work, teachers have to stay home with their children, hospitals are overwhelmed, and tax dollars are spent responding to an outbreak instead of preventing it at pennies on the dollar. Vaccines protect Iowans. Please protect vaccines. I urge you to oppose HF 2171 and preserve Iowa's commonsense immunization requirements that have protected our children for decades.

02-04-2026

Rebecca Koresh

OPPOSE. Vaccines are the biggest protection our children have against many deadly and debilitating diseases. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Public health depends on everyone doing their part. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools makes our state sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, when considering this bill. For the sake of every person, please vote HF2171 down. Consider what is happening in South Carolina with the current measles epidemic. So many families are in quarantine for 21 days effecting student learning as well as the families' livelihoods/economic capacity taking off that much work etc. Please learn from other's mistakes. There are already exceptions in place for this law.

02-04-2026

Sam Jarvis

I urge you to vote no to removing school vaccine requirements! HF 2171 is being heard in subcommittee today at 12:45 and then IMMEDIATELY sent to committee at 1:00. Vaccines are some of the most important tools we have to protect Iowans. School requirements help ensure that all children receive these lifesaving vaccines. Every parent already has the opportunity to exempt their child from school vaccines. It is and always will be the parent's choice. The required school vaccine schedule helps remind parents to talk to their providers about getting their children's vaccines. Childhood vaccines protect children, families, teachers, our communities, and local resources. Outbreaks mean that parents have to take time off of work, teachers have to stay home with their children, hospitals are overwhelmed, and tax dollars are spent responding to an outbreak instead of preventing it at pennies on the dollar. Vaccines protect Iowans. Please protect vaccines. I urge you to oppose HF 2171 and

02-04-2026

Alissa Philipp

I am writing to urge you to oppose this bill. As a Registered Respiratory Therapist for the last 20 years, and a current public health student I am strongly opposed. Research has shown time and again that vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions we have. Parents already have the option for a medical or religious exemption, this bill is unnecessary and harmful.

02-04-2026

Melanie Wellington

STRONGLY OPPOSEI am a physician who specializes in taking care of children with severe or complex infections. I regularly have to take care of children who are hospitalized or worse children who need to be in a critical care unit because they have an infection that could have been prevented if the children around them had been immunized. Not every child can be immunized often, the kids who get the sickest are too young for the vaccine. Sometimes, a child had a medical problem that makes it so they cant get the vaccine. Vaccines work best when everyone who can get vaccinated does get vaccinated. This is especially important in schools. School is an environment where many of these diseases are spread. Making sure that our children are safe in school is everyones job. Vaccines are safe and effective. They protect us and they protect our communities. The school vaccine mandate protects children. We need to preserve it.

02-04-2026

Amy Pisani [Vaccinate Your Family]

Dear Committee Members, As one of the nations most respected nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations committed to reducing the burden of vaccinepreventable diseases in people of all ages, Vaccinate Your Family strongly opposes HF2171, a bill that aims to remove elementary and secondary student immunization requirements in Iowa.Please see attached comment letter for your review.Vaccine requirements for school and daycare entry have a proven track record of increasing immunization rates and keeping children and adolescents, along with their communities, safe. If Iowa removes requirementswithout any studies on the effectschildren and communities in Iowa will be at risk for preventable diseases. For this reason, we strongly request you vote no on HF2171 and protect policies that keep Iowan communities safe. Most Sincerely,Amy PisaniCEO, Vaccinate Your Family

Attachment

02-04-2026

Anita Christensen

I oppose HF2171. The mini diseases that have been severely diminished or eradicated due to vaccinations have helped our communities enormously. I dont think we have a good understanding of what life was like before vaccinations when we are willing to take away something that has probably saved thousands of lives. Please vote no on this bill.

02-04-2026

Rachelle Gammon

Absolutely oppose!How can we have kids learning in environments that are dealing with vaccine preventable disease. We will have significant illness transmission as well as absenteeism due to illness. It is already occurring. There is no longer medical infrastructure to take care of the people that will be sickened by the illnesses and also spread to the most vulnerable who can not get vaccinated. Please please listen to science and if you are wondering about the risks of removing vaccines look at the history of these diseases. Please dont do this to our children. Public schools should be a vaccine preventable disease safe zone!

02-04-2026

Jordan King

02-04-2026

Michelle Bergeson

I am a public health nurse in Illinois. I see kids and adults for regular vaccines and for travel vaccines. Measles is becoming more common in the United States. Many of those cases are in unvaccinated clients. Please:OPPOSE HF2171 As a public health professional, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations are safe and effect and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2171 to protect the health of children and our communities.

02-04-2026

laura martin [Davenport School]

I 100% oppose this bill.Immunizations keep each other safe, keep our community safe, keep out country safe and prevent deathImmunizations and health conditions allow the school nurse to manage the student's educational experience to it fullest. This knowledge is shared with those who need to know and is kept confidential; following the guidelines of HIPPA and FERPA. Please do NOT pass this bill. The passing will lead to devastating consequences. Laura Martin, MPA RN

02-04-2026

Abby Klauer

02-04-2026

Kristina Cook

As a practicing pediatrician, I strongly oppose House File 2171, which removes vaccination requirements for children in grades K12. This bill threatens the health of children and communities by increasing the risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases.Routine childhood vaccines are safe, effective, and one of the greatest public health successes in history. School vaccine requirements protect against highly contagious diseases such as measles, polio, and pertussisillnesses that once caused widespread disability and death and are now controlled because of immunization.In my practice, I care for infants too young to be fully vaccinated and children with medical conditions who rely on herd immunity for protection. Weakening vaccine requirements puts these vulnerable children at risk and places additional strain on schools and healthcare systems.The medical and scientific consensus is clear: vaccines save lives. I urge lawmakers to reject HF 2171 and support evidencebased policies.

02-04-2026

Jolene Baumhover

"OPPOSE. Please reject HF2171. Vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent disease in communities, second only to handwashing. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Public health depends on everyone doing their part. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools makes our state sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, when considering this bill. For the sake of every person, please vote HF2171 down."

02-04-2026

Brooke Huffman

02-04-2026

Lisa Cline

02-04-2026

Sydney Grewell

Oppose. Childhood vaccines protect children, families, teachers, our communities, and local resources. Outbreaks mean that parents have to take time off of work, teachers have to stay home with their children, hospitals are overwhelmed, and tax dollars are spent responding to an outbreak instead of preventing it at pennies on the dollar. Vaccines protect Iowans. Please protect vaccines. I urge you to oppose HF 2171 and preserve Iowa's commonsense immunization requirements that have protected our children for decades.

02-04-2026

Kate Jarvis

Dear Committee Members, Im urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowas longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions.School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools.Please vote NO on HF 2171 and protect policies that keep Iowa children and communities safe.Thank you for your time and consideration,

02-04-2026

Brianna Damstetter

02-04-2026

Sara Rubes

02-04-2026

Mary Koslap-Petraco [Pediatric Nurse Practitioner House Calls]

Dear Committee Members,I am a pediatric nurse practitioner with Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, writing from Massapequa Park, NY. Im urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowas longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students.Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines. Vaccines do not just protect individuals but also those who cannot be vaccinated such as those w cancer. School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Please vote NO on HF 2171 and protect policies that keep Iowa children healthyMary KoslapPetraco DNP CPNP FAANP240 Abbey StMassapequa Park NY 11762

02-04-2026

Deirdre Dalsing

. "OPPOSE. Please reject HF2171. Vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent disease in communities, second only to handwashing. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Public health depends on everyone doing their part. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools makes our state sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, when c

02-04-2026

Kylie Marsh

OPPOSE:Vaccines have proven time and time again that they are effective against diseases. Vaccines were created to help people to be healthy and prevent sickness and death. Without these vaccines, our community will become sick. Iowa is second in the nation for the number of cancer cases, which is not caused from vaccines. Do not let Iowa to allow vaccines to become optional. It will make Iowa even more sick. The military requires all vaccines for our soldiers to stay healthy especially in other countries where their health care is not as advanced as ours even vaccines that us regular citizens do not even receive. Why make our military receive more vaccines than us citizens? We have so many people coming to our country from foreign lands, not knowing if they carry a disease that is dangerous to Americans. Keep us healthy by keeping vaccines required. Why let America become just as sick as those courtiers. Vaccines would not be out in the world if they were not safe!

02-04-2026

Scott Tomar

OPPOSE HF2717 As a public health professional, researcher, and former CDC epidemiologist, I strongly oppose the proposal to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations are safe and effect and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2717 to protect the health of children and our communities.

02-04-2026

Mary Rose Corrigan [City of Dubuque Health Department]

Failure to require immunizations for our children WILL RESULT in increased illness and death from vaccine preventable diseases, especially in our childhood populations. For the first four weeks of 2026, there were 416 total confirmed MEASLES cases in 14 states. 86% of the 416 US cases so far this year have been in children and young adults, and 25% are in preschoolers. Among all the cases, 94% were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. Last year, the CDC confirmed 2255 US measles cases, including three deaths. The US is on the brink of losing our measles irradiation status. Measles is devastating and so is polio. Prior to polio vaccines, there were up to 55,000 cases of polio every year in this country. Over 20,000 of those children were paralyzed and many affected are adults still living with the disabling effects of polio today. The other vaccine preventable diseases, which are highly contagious, will also emerge with the passage of HF 2171

02-04-2026

Tierney Hammel

Vaccines are the safest way to prevent disease in communities. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Public health depends on everyone doing their part. Getting rid of vaccination requirements for schools in Iowa puts our state at risk with safety and health concerns. The people of Iowa are counting on our legislators to consider the whole state when considering this bill. Please vote HF2171 down.

02-04-2026

Anne King

OPPOSED. Why is this being considered as beneficial to all? Vaccines have been proven safe for years by medical professionals and experts and not politicians. The evidence is indisputable: without vaccines children contract and spread illnesses such as measles which we are seeing across the country today. Why do you believe that you are better qualified to make this decision over highly qualified physicians and scientists? This legislation puts everyone at risk.

02-04-2026

Megan Eischeid

OPPOSE. Please reject HF2171. Vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent disease in communities, second only to handwashing. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Public health depends on everyone doing their part. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools makes our state sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, when considering this bill. Protect our children. We shouldn't have to be worried about sending them to school and coming home with a DEADLY disease that could have been PREVENTED. Schools should be a safe place for our children! Look at the science. For the sake of every person, please vote HF2171 down!

02-04-2026

Staci Wedel

OPPOSESchool immunization requirements serve as the "firewall" protecting our learning environments. By striking these requirements for polio, measles, pertussis, and other lifealtering diseases, we are not simply "expanding choice, we are dismantling the herd immunity that protects our most vulnerable. Schools are not isolated bubbles. They include children with leukemia, organ transplants, and other immunocompromised conditions who cannot be fully vaccinated and rely on their peers to remain healthy. This bill effectively bars these children from safe access to public education. I strongly oppose HF 2171.

02-04-2026

Bonnie Walker [Concerned citizen experienced Primary School nurse]

As an experienced Primary School Nurse for 1,500 students ages 2 years 8 months through 3rd grade, I can attest to how quickly illness spreads through a school at these ages. These kids lick the water fountains, put their mouths on them, and do not hesitate to be in each other's personal space. They have little hygienic manners and will cough, sneeze and occasionally vomit on each other without thinking. Runny noses are wiped on the nearest item, hands, sleeves and again each other. Gross, yes but childhood is gross. Protecting those kids who, due to medical reasons, cannot be vaccinated but are attending school and out in the public, as well as the adult staff caring for them is critical. School mandated immunizations is the last stop to making sure that the children in your state are protected from those entering your state from around the nation or world as well as from each other.Keep your state strong, protect your kids and each other.

02-04-2026

Michael Getz

Vaccines are some of the most important tools we have to protect Iowans. School requirements help ensure that all children receive these lifesaving vaccines. Every parent already has the opportunity to exempt their child from school vaccines. It is and always will be the parent's choice. The required school vaccine schedule helps remind parents to talk to their providers about getting their children's vaccines. Childhood vaccines protect children, families, teachers, our communities, and local resources. Outbreaks mean that parents have to take time off of work, teachers have to stay home with their children, hospitals are overwhelmed, and tax dollars are spent responding to an outbreak instead of preventing it at pennies on the dollar.

02-04-2026

Karen Riley

I absolutely oppose this. As the grandmother to a child with health issues, vaccinations protect not only the child who receives them, but children who cannot due to autoimmune issues. Vaccines have saved so many lives. I would prefer polio not spread through our children, small pox not cause deaths in youth by the thousands. Letting unqualified people make Healthcare decisions is irresponsible and ignorant.

02-04-2026

Allison Howells

Dear Committee Members,My name is Allison, and I am writing from Austin, Texas. Im urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowas longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions.Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase outbreak risks regionallyespecially as families travel, attend school and sporting events, and move between states.School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools.Please vote NO on HF 2171 and protect policies that keep Iowa children and communities safe.

02-04-2026

Mandi Remington [Johnson County]

As a County Supervisorand as a mom to children with autoimmune disordersI strongly oppose HF2171. Public schools are a core part of our communities, and keeping kids safe depends on shared responsibility and longstanding immunization standards. Eliminating these requirements would weaken herd immunity and open the door to outbreaks of serious diseases like measles, polio, and meningitis.We would see more sick children, more absences, potential school closures, and added strain on already stretched local healthcare systems. Vaccination requirements make it possible for immunocompromised children to attend school safely and exercise their right to an education. Iowa law already provides for medical and religious exemptions. Removing vaccination requirements entirely would push our most vulnerable neighbors out of public life. I urge you to put the health and safety of all Iowas children first and vote NO on HF2171.

02-04-2026

Patti Wukovits [American Society for Meningitis Prevention]

Dear Committee Members,I oppose HF 2171 and urge you to oppose it, which would remove Iowas longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions.Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase regional outbreak risksespecially as families travel and move between states.School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that helps maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like meningitis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools.Please vote NO on HF 2171 and protect policies that keep Iowa children and keep communities safe.

02-04-2026

Serese Marotta

Dear Committee Members,My name is Serese Marotta and as a bereaved parent who lost my child to a vaccinepreventable disease, I'm urging you to oppose HF2171, which would remove Iowa's longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions. Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase outbreak risks regionally. My child died from a vaccinepreventable disease that may have been prevented if routine vaccination rates were higher in my community. No parent should lose a child to a disease that can be prevented through vaccination. Please vote NO on HF2171 and protect our children, families, and communities from infectious diseases. Thank you for your time and consideration,Serese MarottaVaccine AdvocateKnoxville, TN

02-04-2026

Virgil Peterson

Childhood vaccines are so important for the health of our children! Science has proven them safe & the overwhelming majority of medical professionals recommend them for our children! Its why most serious childhood diseases have been eliminated. Please do not pass this bill!!

02-04-2026

Whitney Randolph

Vehemently OpposeParents in Iowa HAVE a choice already to not vaccinate their child and still be able to attend school. Choices will be taken from families of children with compromised immune systems, medical contraindications to being able to receive vaccines, and those with chronic medical conditions. Removing these requirements shifts risk onto the most vulnerable students, who depend on the immunity of their peers for protection. Eliminating these requirements would leave Iowa more vulnerable to outbreaks of diseases, such as measles and whooping cough that have already resurged nationally when immunization rates decline. Prevention is far less expensive and less disruptive than outbreak response. I urge each and every member of this subcommittee to ask your grandparents or older generations. Ask what was polio outbreaks like prior to a vaccine? I implore you to visit an old cemetery and ponder on all of the children buried there. Vaccines save lives. Iowa cannot move backwards.

02-04-2026

Rebecca Krewer

OPPOSE. Please reject HF2171. Vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent disease in communities, second only to handwashing. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. The health and safety of students in public schools depends on herd immunity which requires a high level of vaccination. This directly affects their community and maintaining public health depends on everyone doing their part. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools makes our state sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, when considering this bill. For the sake of every person, please vote HF2171 down.

02-04-2026

Brett Reimer

I absolutely oppose removing vaccine requirements for schools. Disregarding decades of vaccine science, and the success in reducing and eliminating vaccine preventable diseases to appease a Temu billionaire, and his unqualified DHS secretary, with an actual worm in his brain from disregarding warnings not to eat undercooked pork, is actual insanity. As a physician, I cannot believe this is where we are!

02-04-2026

Leah Moore [Vaccinate Your Family]

Dear Committee Members,My name is Leah Moore, and I am with Vaccinate Your Family, writing from Ladson, SC. Im urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowas longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions.Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase outbreak risks regionallyespecially as families travel, attend school and sporting events, and move between states.School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools.Please vote NO on HF 2171 and protect policies that keep Iowa children safe.

02-04-2026

Katie Reuter

OPPOSE! As a mother of schoolaged children and a medical professional, this bill is so misguided. Immunization requirements keep children safe and free of diseases that can permanently damage physical health or kill. The US is under threat to lose its measles elimination status due to the cases in 2025, and South Carolina has reported over 600 cases of measles this monththis is a disease I have never had to treat in my 20+ year career because we have very effective vaccines. Locally, many health departments are following cases of pertussis (whooping cough)we have a vaccine for this too. Individuals seeking "freedom" from immunization requirements have an avenue already to seek exemptions. Why are we politicizing medical care? Medical decisions need to be left to physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, not politicians. Focus on something more pressing like our cancer rates or polluted waterways.

02-04-2026

Jodie Theobald

Oppose strongly. Stop writing bills to appease extreme opinions that are not informed by good medical science. This endangers all Iowans and further drives away good health professionals. It also increases medical costs when more are sicker and hospitalized.

02-04-2026

Katherine Jones

Please vote NO on this. I am against this. Vaccines are some of the most important tools we have to protect Iowans. Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. School requirements help ensure that children receive these lifesaving vaccines. Every parent already has the opportunity to exempt their child from school vaccines. Childhood vaccines protect children, families, teachers, our communities, and local resources. Outbreaks mean that parents have to take time off of work, teachers have to stay home with their children, hospitals are overwhelmed, and tax dollars are spent responding to an outbreak instead of preventing it at pennies on the dollar. Vaccines protect Iowans. Please protect vaccines. I urge you to oppose HF 2171 and preserve Iowa's commonsense immunization requirements that have protected our children for decades.

02-04-2026

Aishwarya Balakrishna [Will County Health Department & Community Health Center]

OPPOSE HF2717 As a public health professional and on behalf of our local public health department, I strongly oppose the attempt to remove the statutory requirements for elementary and secondary student immunizations. Eliminating school immunization requirements undermines public health in Iowa and in neighboring states like Illinois. Vaccines have been proven effective in preventing outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Decades of scientific evidence demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations are safe and effect and allow children to grow up to be healthy and productive adults. Diseases do not respect geographic borders, and we must keep the residents of our state and communities safe and healthy. I urge the Iowa legislature to reject HF2717 to protect the health of children and our communities.

02-04-2026

Anne Riemenschneider

Please OPPOSE HF2171. Vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent disease in communities, second only to handwashing. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Public health depends on everyone doing their part. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools makes our state sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, when considering this bill. For the sake of every person, please oppose HF2171.

02-04-2026

S Vincent

02-03-2026

Lisa Dickens

I fully support this bill. Medical decisions belong in the hands of parents, and should never be dictated by government. If a parent chose to vaccinate their child (and themselves) I would never advocate for the government to tell them they could not do so. That is their choice. Same for my right to choose what goes into my body and, subsequently, my children's. Its not the government place to dictate medical intervention.

02-03-2026

Courtney Collier

I support HF 2171 because schools should not be enforcing whether a student takes a medical product. That is a private decision between parents and medical providers. We are FREE according to our RIGHTS granted by our Creator, God, to live and engage in society without being coerced to take liability free medical products. This coercion has gone unchecked too long. We now see it for what it is and its time to end it.

02-03-2026

Brigitte Mohler

Oppose this, please. There are vaccination requirements for a reason, vaccines are safe and effective and protect vulnerable populations. If families have religious or medical reasons to postpone or choose not to vaccinate, those forms are easily accessible. For medically fragile kids that cannot receive certain vaccinations this can be a death sentence and Mae public schooling dangerous. A vaccinated populous is community care.

02-03-2026

Heather collins

I SUPPORT this bill being passed. The only people who should be making health decisions for their kids, are parents; schools/government should never be involved, nor pushing medical treatments for children they do not know, or their personal or family history. No one should be told they can't vaccinate, no one should be told they have to vaccinate; it should always be personal choice as there are severe side effects, including death and lifelong disabling effects. Weighing the pros and cons are up to the parents, and their chosen health provider if they choose to consult. As example, vitamin k and hep b is not needed for all newborns breastfed baby to a married monogamous nondrug using family, with a stayathome parent skipping and delaying multiple shots was recommended by my pediatrician, a medical doctor (not a midlevel) at Methodist. IF people want this, let them, but don't demand it.

02-03-2026

Sanja Cooklin

I fully SUPPORT this bill. Access to education needs to be divorced from medical coercion and privacy violations. Vaccination is a matter of personal preference, children's rights to bodily autonomy, parental rights and medical freedom to make informed decisions about their own children's health and any medical interventions. Schools shouldn't be allowed to require vaccines for attendance, especially when it's scientifically proven that some shots make their recipients MORE likely to get sick, like pertussis (whooping cough) which "primes" the body for future infection. An example would be a pertussis outbreak in Mt. Vernon high school a few years ago, which affected dozens of fully vaccinated students and zero unvaccinated.

02-03-2026

Jane Robinette

I oppose HF2171 that would do away with vaccination requirements for elementary and secondary students in Iowa. This is a dangerous bill that puts all of our children at risk. Vaccines are much safer than the diseases they protect against. Please respect science and vote no on this bill. Keep our children safe.

02-03-2026

Tracie Kennedy

I am writing in support of HF2171.Medical decisions should be based on informed and voluntary choice, not fear of losing access to education. When families are forced to comply with a medical requirement in order for their child to attend school, that is not true consent.I am a mother of five, and one of my sons was born prematurely after I was pressured to receive a flu shot during pregnancy. Within days, he stopped moving in the womb and had to be delivered by emergency Csection at 30 weeks. He was born unable to breathe and spent six weeks in the NICU. He survived, but it permanently changed how I approach medical decisions for my children.Because of this, we no longer vaccinate, yet I must navigate burdensome exemptions simply for my children to attend school, even though I am their legal medical decisionmaker.Removing school mandates does not stop anyone from choosing vaccines. It simply gives families the freedom to decide what is best for their children.

02-03-2026

Angie Falco

Fully supportMedical decisions should have no the to do with education. Should be left to the parent and doctor. Education should not be conditional on medical decisions. It cannot be incomes consent if coercion is used.

02-04-2026

Marie Lemka

Why would you even consider such a move. Why put the lives of those who are unable to be vaccinated at risk. Vaccines do not cause autism and are safe and effective. It is written in stone. Check out any graveyard and look at the number of children and babies who dies before and after vaccination became a thing. Do the right thing.

02-04-2026

Beth Schaben

ABSOLUTELY OPPOSE! Why is the Iowa Legislature even considering a bill that will DIRECTLY endanger students? We have spent billions on private schools for"school choice. The have a choice to go elsewhere if they require another choice.

02-04-2026

Leslie George-paulsen

OPPOSE. Please reject HF2171. Vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent disease in communities, second only to handwashing. The people of Iowa are safer when everyone who can be vaccinated is vaccinated. Parents making individual decisions for their own children does not keep a community safe or healthy. Public health depends on everyone doing their part. Striking vaccination requirements for Iowa schools makes our state sicker, not safer. The people of Iowa are counting on their legislators to consider the whole state, every person, especially the most vulnerable who need others doing their part to keep them safe.

02-04-2026

Beverly Ganzhorn

Im against this bill. As a former teachers daughter who graduated in 1976, I grew up before many vaccines and my mom taught for years listening and watching sick kids. She told how they couldn't wait to get us vaccinated, they trusted the science, the doctors and their oath to do no harm. As a grandmother, I don't want my kids exposed to unnecessary illnesses because someone follows misleading information. There are children and teachers with immune deficiencies and are so at risk to these diseases. Where does a school draw the line from teaching science and then tell parents ignore the science? Please do not pass this bill, for our children and the school staff's sake and their families at home who may get sick because they bring something home.

02-04-2026

Stacy Buchanan [National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners ]

Dear Committee Members,My name is Stacy B. Buchand,I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from Lilburn, GA. I'm urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowa's longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions.Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase outbreak risks regionallyespecially as families travel, attend school and sporting events, and move between states.School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools.Please vote NO on HF 2171 and protect policies that keep Iowa child

02-04-2026

Lauren Heckert [American Society for Meningitis Prevention]

Dear Committee Members,My name is Lauren Heckert, and I am an advocate with ASMP, writing from St. Louis, MO. Im urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowas longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions.Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase outbreak risks regionallyespecially as families travel, attend school and sporting events, and move between states.School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools.Please vote NO on HF 2171 and protect policies that keep Iowa child

02-04-2026

Stephanie Claussen

I strongly oppose this bill. Vaccinations are one of the greatest public health achievements of our time and weakened public health policy threatens the lives of children, their families, their livelihood and communities. We must protect our vulnerable populations by holding up public health policies that protect the lives of many. This bill is not about choice, it is a thinly veiled attempt at undermining the importance of vaccines that are proven time and time again to be safe and effective. My children do not even know what chickenpox is because they are vaccinated. When I was in school, before the vaccine, chickenpox caused an outbreak and our entire kindergarten class was out of school at the same time. Some for weeks. Children and teachers have the right to go to school with assurance that their class and community is protected from illness using one of the best tools to prevent that, with vaccination.

02-04-2026

Jayme Fahrer [Jayme Pours Out]

I strongly and unequivocally oppose House File 2171.Eliminating immunization requirements for K12 students would put children, educators, immunocompromised families, and entire communities at unnecessary and preventable risk. Vaccination requirements exist because history has shown us what happens without them: outbreaks, hospitalizations, permanent disability, and death.Diseases like measles, polio, and meningitis are not harmless childhood inconveniences. They are serious infections that have killed children and left survivors with lifelong complications. Vaccination requirements have dramatically reduced these tragedies. Removing them will reverse decades of public health progress.Schools are shared spaces. Students do not exist in isolation they bring germs home to infants, cancer patients, pregnant women, grandparents, and medically vulnerable peers who rely on community immunity for protection. Policy decisions must consider those lives too.

02-04-2026

Teri Bos

OPPOSE. All U.S. states require certain vaccines for school attendance, ensuring a baseline level of disease protection for schools and communities. Childhood vaccines have dramatically reduced diseases that once caused widespread harm. When vaccination rates begin to drop, outbreaks become more likely, leading to missed days of learning for students and increased costs for healthcare and public health for disease response. A bill to strike school immunization requirements is unnecessary, as current Iowa law already allows optouts via religious and medical exemptions.

02-04-2026

Kristen Aldretti

I strongly opposed any proposed removal of K12 immunization requirements. In addition to being a proud University of Iowa grad, I am also a bereaved parent, having lost a child to Meningococcal Meningitis Serotype B before a vaccine for this highly contagious, fatal disease was available. I can speak directly to what it's like to lose a child to a disease that is now preventable. By removing immunization requirements, the State of Iowa would be culpable for illness and death caused by not protecting its children. This is not the State of Iowa in which I am proud to have been educated. Please continue to protect children by requiring immunizations. One death from removing this requirement is too many.

02-04-2026

Alicia Stillman [American Society for Meningitis Prevention (ASMP)]

In 2013, my healthy college sophomore daughter, Emily, died suddenly from Meningitis B. She had been fully vaccinated with the MenACWY vaccine, but the MenB vaccine was not yet available in the U.S. to protect her. Today vaccines do exist that can help prevent these tragedies, but HF 2171 would mean less families are protected against this horrible disease and many others. School immunization requirements are a proven way to keep vaccination rates high and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases. Removing these protections would increase risk for children and their communities and create confusion for families and schools. We all want healthy children, safe families, and strong communities. Vaccines give families the ability to protect their loved ones and help ensure schools remain places of learning, not preventable illness.Please vote NO on HF 2171. Make sure what happened to me doesnt happen to other families.

02-04-2026

Kelly Keefe Marcoux

My name is Dr. Kelly Keefe Marcoux and I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Executive, writing from New Jersey. I'm urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowa's longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions.Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase outbreak risks regionallyespecially as families travel, attend school and sporting events, and move between states, and cause unnecessary pediatric deaths. School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools.vote NO on HF 2171

02-04-2026

Erin Abramsohn [Infectious Disease Prevention Network (IDPN)]

I respectfully express opposition to HF 2171 which would remove Iowas longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions.

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02-04-2026

Jessica Murphy [MD Chapter of NAPNAP]

On behalf of the Maryland's over 200 pediatric nurse practitioners (PNP), the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of PNPs (NAPNAP) expresses their strong opposition of this bill, which risks the health and safety of children across the US, as vaccinepreventable illness outbreaks do not follow state borders. Please see our attached letter. We urge an unfavorable report.

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02-04-2026

Madeleine Bruning [MSMU Emerita Professor]

My name is Madeleine Bruning, EdD, CPNP and I am an Emerita Professor with Mount St. Marys University and writing from Santa Fe, NM I'm urging you to oppose HF 2171, which would remove Iowa's longstanding school immunization requirements for K12 students and eliminate related enrollment and verification provisions.Although I do not live in Iowa, what happens in Iowa matters far beyond state borders. Vaccinepreventable diseases do not stop at state lines, and weakened immunization policies can increase outbreak risks regionallyespecially as families travel, attend school and sporting events, and move between states.School immunization requirements are a proven, effective public health tool that help maintain high vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of serious diseases like measles and pertussis. Eliminating these requirements would put more children at risk and create unnecessary confusion for families and schools.Please vote NO on HF 2171 and protect policies that keep I

02-04-2026

MEREDITH LEIGH

HELLO THERE!MY NAME IS MEREDITH LEIGH AND I AM A PHARMACIST FROM A AND E PHARMACY IN ARDEN HILLS, MN. I AM WRITING TO PLEAD WITH YOU TO VOTE NO ON HF 2171.ALTHOUGH I DO NOT LIVE IN IOWA, I KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES OF VACCINE HESITANCY IN OUR COUNTRY. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE MEASLE OUBREAKS ACROSS OUR NATION, AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES DO NOT UNDERSTAND STATE BORDERS. THIS DECISION WILL AFFECT ALL OF US. VACCINES ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PROTECT ALL OF THE CHILDREN ACROSS OUR NATION. ELIMINATING VACCINE MANDATES WOULD BE CONFUSING TO PARENTS AND FRANKLY IS JUST A DUMB IDEA.PLEASE KEEP OUR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES SAFE AND HEALTHY AND VOTE NO ON HF 2171.

02-04-2026

Samuel Stone

For the safety of myself and my peers, certain vaccines must be administered to students. Students are required to attend school and if they arent required to have immunizations, schools will be a breeding ground for diseases such meningitis.

02-04-2026

Philip Talley [Illinois Public Health Association]

02-03-2026

Liz Herbrandson

I SUPPORT this bill! Parents need to be the ones making these choices for their families. The people opposing say it endangers other kids? How? If your child is vaccinated then they are the only ones fully protected and safe by your standards. Only the unvaccinated would be at risk. Otherwise your admitting vaccines don't work and then again shouldn't be pushed on other people.

02-03-2026

Laura Brunsen

I am absolutely AGAINST the changes proposed in HF2171. Immunizations are vital to protect our communities. Children who receive immunizations receive protection and help eliminate disease which protects everyone else in the community. I am sick of the government spreading lies about immunizations. They help people. They save lives and one of the best ways to ensure people get immunized is to require immunizations for school children. Don't buy into the ignorance that Kennedy Jr. is spreading. CONTINUE TO REQUIRE IMMUNIZATIONS FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN!!!

02-03-2026

Suzanne Miller [- None -]

I vehemently oppose this bill. Is it fair to my children and grandchildren to be exposed to diseases that can take their life or cause them irreparable harm? When my granddaughter was six weeks old and too young for the pertussis shot, she was exposed in a doctor's office to a child with whooping cough whose parents were against vaccinations. She had to take a round of antibiotics to prevent coming down with whooping cough (which very much upset her young immune system). If we want to live and be part of a community, then we are not only responsible for ourselves, but the safety and wellbeing of other people around us. VOTE NO!

02-03-2026

Jessica Vickers

OPPOSE!!!! Our nation is on the verge of losing our measles elimination status because of this ridiculous notion that vaccination is a bad thing despite overwhelming lack of evidence. People are going to die and children and the elderly will be the victims of stupidity and common sense heath care practices. The spread of infectious disease will increase, the rate of hospitalizations will increase and the rate of infectious disease related death will increase. This will inturn increase the cost of healthcare so if people aren't feeling the squeeze from having lost their medicare/medicaid benefits . RURAL IOWANS WILL BE IMPACTED MOST!!! Our state needs to rehabilitate the relationship between the people and experts in the field NOT make changes rooted in conspiracy theories.

02-03-2026

Kenzie Ree

I support this bill. Informed consent to medical care and vaccine choice are important. All families deserve that education and choice without having to sacrifice one or the other. Neither, education or medical choice, are not one size fits all. I support the HF2171.

02-03-2026

Anne Voge

I oppose this bill strongly. As a retired teacher, I know how much interaction students have on a daily basis. So much sickness can be prevented with required immunizations. Students perform better if they are healthy.Anne Voge

02-03-2026

Stacy Volmer

I strongly oppose HF 2171. Eliminating student immunization requirements puts Iowas children and schools at risk of preventable disease. Vaccines protect classrooms, vulnerable students, and public health. This bill ignores decades of medical evidence and should be rejected.

02-03-2026

Marian Gehrls

Have you lost your minds. Vaccines have been proven to eradicate diseases, to lessen the impact of illness and to be safe. What happened to the days when we lined up in school for the newest vaccines. NO Questions asked. Vaccines have been invented for the good of all. Vaccine requirements benefit all, I am not opposed to those with true exceptions requesting a waiver but in most cases of true exceptions the vaccines and preventative measures taken by the majority serve to protect those who are vulnerable. My doctor, who I believe is the expert, says YES to vaccines.

02-03-2026

Maggie Valentine

Please support this bill. Parents have the most knowledge about their child and the motivation to make the best possible choices for them. Medical decisions should be between patient and doctor, not a one size fits all mandate. Furthermore, patient records are private and the school does not have the right to violate that privacy. Public schools are losing the publics trust, confidence and support. Many people are choosing home school and private school for this reason. Public schools will likely continue to struggle with funding as a result. However, equal access to quality education is critical for our society. Please pass this bill and restore one element of parents trust in the public schools system. Private medical decisions should not prevent parents from sending their children to public schools. Please uphold parents rights to make medical decisions for their children without fear of punishment or exclusion.

02-03-2026

Katherine Bowler

I oppose this bill. Vaccines have proven to work best in instances where we can have heard immunity. In cases where some individuals physically cannot get vaccinated we need to protect the most vulnerable by making sure the majority is vaccinated. As we are seeing with measles, vaccines work best when everyone who can get vaccinated gets vaccinated. For the safety of all children it is important we have these mandates.

02-03-2026

Monica Robeson

I strongly support HF2171. Parents are the legal and rightful medical decision makers for their children. This decision should be made privately with a doctors advice and not be linked to forced compliance in order to gain an education.

02-03-2026

Teresa Wellman

OPPOSED. Public schools are for the public good. Its in the interests of the majority to protect each through the same vaccination schedules that all these legislators benefited from as children. Decades of scientific research as well as ongoing study show our childhood vaccines are safe, and safer for many children than getting these preventable diseases. Parents who wish exemptions have means to do so. Let them take those steps or forgo public schools for private schools or homeschool. These parents have all the choices they need. This legislature needs to back off this nonsense.

02-03-2026

Bev Belieu

Support! All Iowans must have the right to refuse medical treatment under any circumstance. Because pharmaceutical manufacturers have not been required to disclose all adverse reactions and do not assume financial responsibility for medical injury, no mandates are acceptable.

02-04-2026

Denise Warzak

I hope the majority vote against this bill. We, as biochemists/scientists, have done too good a job at preventing so many diseases that killed/disabled many children before the age of 10, that many think vaccines are useless. Decades of data and declining death rates should be proof enough that vaccines work. Requirements protect not only the kids that get vaccinated but also anyone who cant get vaccinated, are immune compromised, or very young. So not vaccinating a child does in fact affect more than just that one kid. It protects many.

02-04-2026

Brittany Quint

Vaccines are proven to be effective against deadly illnesses. People already have a choice to homeschool or go to a private school. What about students who cannot receive vaccines? They deserve to be able to have herd immunity at school!

02-04-2026

Jean Dunn

AGAINST! This bill is dangerous. It endangers all of those people who for various reasons cannot protect themselves by getting vaccinated. Look at a video and see what whooping cough looks like in an infant. I am old enough to remember polio and I dont want to go back.

02-04-2026

Sally Johnson

I strongly oppose this bill. Vaccinations help keep the entire community safe from communicable diseases. We are seeing a surge in measles cases due to lack of vaccination. If vaccinations are not required we could be dealing with resurgence of other diseases, too. Parents already have a choice to get around the requirements, if they so desire. They do not need this bill. PLEASE VOTE NO!!!

02-04-2026

Barb Ewer

SUPPORT!True informed consent cannot exist when refusal results in exclusion from education. Consent obtained under threat of penalty is coercion, not consent. Sadly, medical personnel are not informed themselves.Mandates erode trust, and trust is essential for public health. Countries and states that emphasize voluntary, transparent, physicianled decisionmaking consistently see higher longterm confidence. Coercion breeds resistance, while respectful dialogue increases engagement and accountability.Most vaccines on the market today do not stop transmission, and do not prevent infection.

02-04-2026

Sam Jarvis

I am against this bill. If parents have questions about vaccine recommendations for their children, they can talk to their child's doctor at any time and specific exemptions exist for those who need them. States institute mandatory immunization requirements as a prerequisite to school enrollment because it is the most efficient method of maintaining herd immunity for a variety of communicable diseases. Maintaining herd immunity is far less costly for governments, health care, and the local economy than treating patients of a disease after it has spread in a community. The overall societal cost of the 2019 Clark County, WA measles outbreak was approximately $3.4 million ($47,479 per case or $814 per contact). The majority of the costs ($2.3 million) were incurred by the public health response to the outbreak, followed by productivity losses ($1.0 million), and direct medical costs ($76,000). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9004490/

02-04-2026

Sara Zejnic

Vehemently OPPOSE. The science is clear, vaccines for highly communicable and highly dangerous diseases save lives. We are seeing the impacts of reduced vaccination rates with measles outbreaks and measles deaths at higher levels than have been seen in over 30 years. It is absolutely absurd that we are even discussing removing guardrails that have protected children and communities for decades. Removing vaccination requirements from public schools does nothing but make schools less safe than they already are for our children. But by all means, please do continue to follow the lead of wannabe influencer moms who get their health data from a quack with a worm in his brain rather than from decades of repeatable scientific study.

02-04-2026

Rachel Cadena [AFLDS, TN Liberty Network]

I support this bil.Medical decisions are between a patient and doctor. The schools have no business dictating medical requirements. Dictating/ mandating impedes freedom. More data has come out that the healthiest chikdren are not immunized.https://drwojakmd.substack.com/p/unvaccinatedchildrenarehealthierAs data comes out and people are learning they need to ultimately be free to choose what is best for them and their families.

02-04-2026

Peter Wallace, MD, MS, CPE, FACPE, FAAP [Iowa Public Health Association Board of Health member]

I am a pediatrician of 50 years experience with immunizations, and also a 15year public health official. I was the Chair of the Iowa Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics when the chapter, led by Dr. Martin Myers, a pediatric infectious disease physician, got the schoolentry bill passed by our legislature. I have testified for immunizations at a U.S. senate committee and worked with Senator Grassley on passage of the Federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Act of 1986. I know the importance of protecting our children from as many diseases as we can, and this bill denies that protection. The current bill allows parents to opt out of immunizations this bill will deprive far too many people to deny their children protection. I adamantly oppose HF2171 and urge you not to support it in deference to the protection of Iowa's children.

02-04-2026

Sara Zejnic

Oppose. If parents want to choose to not vaccinate their children, they can also choose to homeschool their children or to send children to a private school that does not require compliance with state mandates. Public schools are designated for public use which necessitates consideration for others wellbeing and care. I cant choose to send my children to school or daycare if they have a fever or are vomiting as those are policies put in place to protect the wellbeing of others. Vaccination requirements in public schools serve the same purpose and must be protected.

02-04-2026

Patricia Benson

AGAINST. It is 2026. Why is this even being considered?!?! Measles had been effectively eliminated in the US due to vaccine use and now its on the rise because of misinformation, vaccine hesitantly, & too many exemptions for requiring vaccines. The potential complications from a measles infection are tragic and preventable. Modern medicine exists to be used, not shuttered away because a few misinformed individuals believe it infringes on their individual rights. If you live in society, in community, then you also are responsible for protecting the rights of others and herd immunity falls under that. Sadly there are now generations who have not contracted communicable diseases because of vaccines so they've not had personal experience with the potentially devastating effects of actual infection. I lived through those years without vaccines & had most of those illnesses. I wouldn't wish those infections on anyone.

02-04-2026

Patricia Benson

02-04-2026

Teri Schloss

AGAINST! Medical decisions are still between patient and parent and no medical records other than the immunization record are shared with the school. Requirements were made to keep the public safe. I dont like wearing a seatbelt or driving the speed limit, but those laws are for public safety, just as immunization requirements are. Iowa still has medical exemptions if parents and their providers make a decision that a child shouldnt receive a vaccine. Iowa still has religious exemptions for immunizations. With the current surge of measles cases, I find this bill irresponsible to the children, immunocompromised, and others who are medically unable to receive vaccines. Laws are meant to protect citizens, not put them at risk. I ask if any of you have witnessed these diseases first hand and the devastating results they can bring? Dont take us back in time to iron lungs and people being afraid to leave their homes.

02-04-2026

Rachel Cadena [AFLDS, TN Liberty Network]

I know people and families whose lives were destroyed or taken by adverse side effects of vaccines. It could be a civil rights violation to refuse education based on immunization requirements hence the exemptions. There should be no need for any of this as this is a decision between the patient and doctor who knows what best for that patient.https://dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com/universityofcoloradovaxmandateruledunconstitutional/The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals found the COVID19 mandates imposed by the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine unconstitutional on May 7th.The school refused to grant religious vaccine exemptions to some religions, while granting them to others.The 21 ruling found the schools mandate violated the appellants First and Fourteenth Amendment Rights.