Area Students Asked to Get Vaccination Updates

North Iowa schools start classes in less than two weeks and what used to be a fall rite of passage — getting kids updated on their shots, is happening less frequently, and is more often the subject of debate. Natoshia Askelson, a professor in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, says the topic of vaccination has become embroiled in partisan politics and misinformation, while new legislation makes it easier for families to skirt requirements. https://kiow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/08/Vax-1.wav

Some 3.6% of Iowa children are using that religious exemption now, according to Askelson, which equates to 19-thousand unvaccinated students in schools statewide. The U. I. recommends all incoming students be vaccinated against a host of ailments. https://kiow.com/wp-conte