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Iowa City community reacts to proposed bill eliminating school vaccine requirements.
A proposed Iowa bill that would eliminate childhood vaccination requirements for school attendance could significantly impact how the state prevents the spread of infectious diseases.
The legislation would remove the current state requirements that children need to receive certain vaccinations to attend school, instead shifting the vaccination decision to the parents. Supporters like that the change would increase parental choice, whereas critics argue it could put children and the community at a greater risk of spreading preventable diseases.
The bill was introduced by Iowa Republican lawmakers, who said the proposal is intended to expand parental rights by giving families more control with their medical decisions. Supporters of the bill have also argued that vaccine requirements should not be mandated by the state.
Public health officials in Iowa City said that eliminating these requirements could have substantial impacts on children’s health and safety.
Dr. Elizabeth Wikle, a pediatrician at the University of Iowa Health Care, said vaccination requirements play a role in preventing outbreaks of diseases that can easily spread in the school and community settings.
“When vaccination rates drop, we start to see illnesses that were once rare begin to reappear,” Wikle said, “schools bring large groups of children together in close contact, which creates an environment where diseases can spread quickly.”
Wilke said vaccine requirements help children receive annual medical care. Routine medical visits also allow doctors to identify other health concerns early.
“When families come in for vaccines, we’re not only administering a shot,” she said, “we’re also checking growth, talking about mental health and addressing other medical issues that may not otherwise be caught.
Wilke said declining vaccination rates may lead to frequent outbreaks of diseases that have become rarer in the United States. This adds difficulties to clinics and emergency rooms, taking the focus away from patients who need immediate care.
“Many of these illnesses can cause serious complications,” she said, “vaccinations are one of the safest and most effective tools we have to prevent that.”
Dr. Natoshia Askelson, a professor at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, said that school vaccination requirements contribute to herd immunity and help maintain high immunization rates.
“Herd immunity helps protect individuals who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants or people with certain medical conditions,” Askelson said, “when vaccination rates fall, those individuals become more vulnerable.”
Askelson said schools are susceptible to transmissible diseases because children interact closely with each other and frequently share materials.
“We know schools are environments where infections spread easily,” she said. “Vaccination requirements are one of the tools that help prevent outbreaks.”
Yet, some advocates argue that vaccination decisions should be left solely to the parents.
Lindsay Maher, a member of the legislative team of the advocacy group Informed Choice Iowa, said families should have the freedom to make medical decisions for their children without government requirements.
“Parents deserve the ability to make informed medical decisions for their own children,” Maher said, “many families want more transparency and more choice when it comes to vaccines.”
Maher said discussions about vaccine policies should focus primarily on education and informed consent rather than government mandates.
“We believe parents should be informed and allowed to make decisions that are best for their family,” she said, “education and informed consent are part of that process.”
The proposed bill has sparked strong reactions from parents in the Iowa City community.
Dylan Thiemann, an Iowa City parent, said he strongly opposed eliminating the school vaccine requirements. Thiemann said he believes the bill may increase the risk of preventable diseases spreading among the school and community settings.
“I trust the science behind vaccines and the medical professionals who recommend them,” Thiemann said, “removing requirements puts vulnerable children at risk.”
Thiemann said vaccination decisions affect more than just families.
“This isn’t just a personal choice,” he said, “it’s something that affects entire communities.”
Local students have also been following the discussions surrounding the proposed legislation.
Rilynn Lawman, a student at the University of Iowa, said that vaccines play an important role in keeping school environments safe.
“I think vaccines help protect people who might get really sick if they catch something,” Rilynn said. “It’s important that schools stay safe for everyone.”
Lawman said the ongoing debate highlights the importance of considering how individual decisions can affect others.
“When people make health decisions, it can impact the whole school community,” she said. “It’s important to think about everyone.”
As lawmakers continue to debate the legislation, Iowa City community members say the outcome could have lasting implications on public health and education across the state.
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University of Iowa expands mental health services as student demand increases.
IOWA CITY, IOWA - At the University of Iowa, rising student demand for mental health services is pushing for campus resources to expand access while maintaining timely care.
This issue reflects a broader trend at the university. According to the 2025 National College Health Assessment, 76.6% of University of Iowa students reported moderate or high stress levels, and 39.3% said they had used mental health services in the past year.
Cara Cerullo, associate director and director of clinical services for the University Counseling Services, said the department has changed how students access care in response to that demand.
One of the biggest changes has been how students schedule appointments. Previously, students could book appointments up to six weeks in advance, but many did not show up. Now, initial appointments are scheduled within two weeks, with same-day and next-day options available.
“The intention was getting students into services faster, more at the time of need,” Cerullo said.
She said the changes have reduced wait times by about two days and eliminated waitlists this year.
The university has also expanded access by embedding counselors in the colleges of law, business and engineering, and expanding into university housing and dining services. In addition to creating “connected counselor” programs that place clinicians in additional campus spaces for parts of the week.
Cerullo said the goal is to meet the students where they are. Despite these efforts, student experiences vary. Emily Ballin, a University of Iowa student who has used counseling services, said scheduling was easy, but appointment availability was limited.
Ballin also said the limited number of free sessions created challenges.
“At the end, it was kind of awkward because you only get a certain number of appointments, so they kind of just kick you out and offer other options,” she said.
Ballin said university services are especially important for students who may not have other options or be financially stable.
“Students can be struggling and may not be able to afford any other options,” she said, “so the mental health services the university offers can be beneficial and help students succeed in their studies.”
Mental health professionals say the issue extends beyond access and capacity.
Barry Schreier, a clinical professor of counseling psychology at the University of Iowa, said the perception of student mental health has shifted in recent years.
“I have seen a gradual and continual uptick in pathologizing what was previously considered normative worries,” Schreier said, “too many reasonable responses to challenging things are now seen as mental health concerns.”
He said mental health should be viewed as part of the broader picture of student well-being.
“For too long, mental health has been centralized as being ‘the problem’ when difficulties with mental health are often the outcomes of challenges in other areas of well-being,” he said.
Still, students said access to counseling can make a difference.
Rachel Kubick, a University of Iowa student who has used University Counseling Services, said her experience helped her gain perspective.
“After my first appointment, I felt like I was able to view my own situation from a different perspective,” she said, “it helped me not only mentally, but also allowed me to put more effort into school, friendships and other things.”
Cerullo said college is a critical time for mental health support as students are adjusting to a new independence and responsibility.
“It’s a really pivotal, developmental time,” she said, “students are starting to make decisions for themselves and figure out who they want to be.”
The university is also expanding broader wellness efforts, including peer support programs and a centralized wellness hub on campus. Plans are underway to move the University Counseling Service, Student Health, and Student Care and Assistance into a shared space at the Iowa Memorial Union beginning in the fall, pending approval.
“There’s a lot of discussion to grow right now to ensure that students are getting to the right support system right away,” Cerullo said.
University officials say the goal is to improve both access and coordination of care as demand continues to grow.
AI Disclosure Statement: Artificial intelligence in the form of ChatGPT was used to brainstorm reaction story topics and interview questions. Artificial intelligence in the form of Grammarly was used to check spelling and grammar once the writing was completed.