Meeting Public Comments

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SF 2003

A bill for an act relating to the provision of information relating to school immunization exemptions.(See SF 2196.)

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Green-CH, Donahue, Salmon

Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024

Time: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: Room 217 Conference Room

Comments Submitted:

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The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.

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

01-17-2024

Coreena Kinney []

My school district is an example of one that does not provide any information on the legal right to a vaccination exemption for school attendance. This bill is needed to inform parents of their rights.

01-17-2024

Gabby Fistler []

Vote Yes! Even though the requirement of an exemption is already required by law many schools large and small are not being transparent with parents by omitting the acceptance of exemptions. Many parents have the perception that no shots no school is a true sentiment. They read in the newspaper about kindergarten roundup and it says their child must be up to date on current vaccinations, they see a post on social media stating to vaccinate your children before school starts or they receive an email or letter in the mail saying they do not have immunization records on file and your child must be up to date on their vaccinations by (blank) date or they can not attend school anymore. This bill is not changing any of the immunizations requirements it is simply requiring schools to disclose what the current law already states.

01-17-2024

Amy A []

Please vote yes! Our school district posts every year "no shots no school" and parents don't even know they have a choice! I remind the school every year and each time, they pretend like they didn't know they should inform parents of that. Informed choice is of the utmost importance!

01-17-2024

Robert Nazario []

I support this bill.We Must stand with parents and have full disclosure at schools. Parents are not fully aware of their rights regarding vaccinations. Its shameful they are made to believe the child vaccine schedule is required! We need TRUTH in Schools!

01-17-2024

Liz L []

"Is your child up to date? Every student entering 7th grade needs a Tdap and meningitis vaccine." Many schools including mine hang signs like this regularly even though it's not true. There are daycares that are required by Iowa law to accept exemptions but will outright refuse to enroll children once they find out they come with exemptions. Requiring them to acknowledge in their paperwork the true requirements that vaccination and/or exemption are valid would greatly help in this scenario. We are asking for these publicly funded schools and daycares to stop trying to skirt the law by lying to people and not fully disclosing available options. Please support this bill

01-17-2024

Jennifer Nazario []

It is very important that you vote yes on this bill. Schools should disclose that Childhood vaccines are encouraged; however; not mandatory to attend and list other options such as medical exemption, religious exemption, etc

01-18-2024

Jennifer Sulgrove []

This is just one more opportunity for parents to have a choice. With all of the information coming to light regarding vaccines, it is imperative for parents to evaluate what is important for their family and not be pressured by school districts to force and shame those who choose not to vaccinate.

01-18-2024

M B []

Good day. I'm asking this subcommittee to please support SF2003 that will require school districts and publicly funded childcare centers to disclose all immunization recommendation information that exemptions exist and are accepted for religious and medical reasons. Parents have the right to know that exemptions exist to the current requirements. Many schools are not forthcoming that there are choices and say "no shots, no school", which is not true. Being upfront with the information should help improve transparency of current Iowa law.People deserve to know all the information up front so they can make informed decisions about their options. Hiding it makes the system seem untrustworthy and sneaky.

01-18-2024

Tim Stumo []

Hello and thank you for your service! I am in support of this bill and I hope this passes. I believe this bill should pass because the current mantra of "no shots, no school" is a form of coercion and violates the right to informed consent, of both the parent and the child. Whether any of us agree on vaccination or not should be irrelevant because everyone has the right to be fully informed on any medical treatment, we or our dependent, are about to receive and in this case any exemption that is available. The American Medical Association defines Informed Consent as:"Informed consent to medical treatment is fundamental in both ethics and law. Patients have the right to receive information and ask questions about recommended treatments so that they can make wellconsidered decisions about care. Successful communication in the patientphysician relationship fosters trust and supports shared decision making."I again ask you to pass this bill to correct the current violations of informed consent that is taking place in our school system. Thank you!

01-18-2024

Teri Patrick []

My school is not transparent that vaccines are not required. Many parents I talk to have no idea they are not required in order to attend. Emails sent by the schools use wording that lead parents to believe they are necessary. In such communications I would also like addressed they are not required as well as providing a link to the exemption form.

01-18-2024

Rafaela Cadena [AFLDS,ILN]

I support this bill and urge you to Vote yes. I received emails from my daughters school nurse in fall of 2022 that certain vaccines were needed for senior year. I referred her to our religious exemption filed during Covid.Luckily I was able to inform some parents that reached out to me that it is not required but they make you think it is. This is wrong especially the data showing the many harmful and sometimes deadly affects of vaccines.

01-18-2024

Ella Hall []

If only I had known that vaccines were not required to go to school, I could have prevented some serious vaccine adverse events that happened in one of my children. I felt like I had to keep giving my child these shots every year due to school rules. If only I had known the truth. I could have saved my last child from devastating health problems. Parents have the right to know the truth.

01-18-2024

Stephanie Harris []

My school district is one that does not provide any information if fact I have had to send the nurse reminder to add it because they forgot to include it on the newsletter. I cant tellYou how many conversations Ive had with parents and they dont even know that there are exceptions! This bill is needed to inform parents of their rights

01-18-2024

Amy Dea []

I fully support this bill. Parents have the right and obligation to do what they believe is best for their children. Taking away parental right by failing to give them all of the facts is dishonest and manipulative.

01-18-2024

Brooke Stumbaugh []

Schools most definitely are not transparent about vaccines and parents should know their children can attend school with a waiver. The majority mindset is no shots, no school and this is simply not true.

01-18-2024

Mandy Gilbert []

Please vote yes. Parents need transparency and be fully informed of their options for their children. The message has always been shared by the districts that vaccines must be current to attend school but not disclosing that exemptions can exist.

01-18-2024

Kelly Smith []

Parents deserve transparency and to be able to make educated decisions regarding immunizations! Schools tell parents Iowa Immunization Law requires all students to have vaccines but often fail to leave out they can file for an exemption.

01-18-2024

Jennifer Leonhard []

I support this bill. This bill helps to clarify existing law so that parents understand all their options up front. Currently many schools and daycares neglect to inform parents that exemptions are even an option. By clarifying this point it will reduce the frustration and paperwork hassles for school nurses by making sure everyone is on the same page immediately.

01-18-2024

E S []

Please vote for informed choice. It's so important for parents to have all the facts when registering their kids for school and daycare. I was led to believe that there were no exceptions and after having one injured child following vaccines, still choose to vaccinate the next even though there is higher risk siblings will have similar reactions. That child also suffered longterm consequences and irreversible health effects from their vaccines. This needs to change!

01-18-2024

Jenna Jenna []

I support this bill. So many parents think all kids in public school are immunized and that kids are not allowed in school without their "shots", which is simply not true. Parents need to know they have options.

01-18-2024

Robert Leonhard []

The schools who are failing to provide transparency in the matter of exemptions are misleading at best and in the case of "no shots no school" slogans they are coercive. Schools should not be putting themselves in this precarious position.

01-18-2024

Karen Ahrenholtz []

Please pass this bill!!! Some school districts place too much pressure on parents saying your child needs to have all their vaccinations or they will not be allowed to attend school. Parents have the right to know that exemptions do exist to the current requirements and not be bullied into shots that they don't feel are in the best interest of their child. This bill improves transparency of current Iowa law.Thank you for passing SF2003!

01-18-2024

Cindy Kruthoff []

I fully support the amendment to this bill. More and more research is coming to light on the dangers of the childhood schedule of vaccines. The number of vaccines children are recommended to receive has risen exponentially over the past 20 years. Of course, big pharma disputes any of the concerns. But we all know money is at the root of them pushing every possible vaccine on humanity. Too many younger parents don't realize they even have a choice about vaccines. It does not have to be vaccines or no school/daycare! This amendment will educate the parents and help them make a more informed decision of the choices they have.

01-18-2024

Oliver Bardwell [Iowans 4 Freedom]

This bill is common sense and doesnt change the law around exemptions in any way. It simply requires that the ability to file an exemption is disclosed to parents. Unfortunately it needs to be disclosed because the public perception is no shot no school and there are many schools that are promoting that perception.