Iowa governor signs vaccine mandate exemption bill into law

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.