Iowa governor signs vaccine mandate exemption bill into law
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Published: Oct. 29, 2021 at 2:50 PM CDT
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law a bill that allows Iowa workers to seek medical and religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine mandates and guarantees that those who are fired for refusing a vaccine will qualify for unemployment benefits.
Reynolds signed the bill Friday and the law becomes effective immediately.
Reynolds has opposed federal requirements for masks and vaccines, even though COVID-19 has killed nearly 7,000 people in Iowa and medical science has shown both to be effective in reducing the spread of the coronavirus.
In Iowa, 55.4% of the population is fully vaccinated.
Reynolds says no Iowan should lose their job over the vaccine.
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