Vaccine Confusion: Iowa's Health Leaders Need to Step Up

Iowa's health leaders are facing a tough challenge. They need to make sure vaccines stay safe and effective. This is not just a job for one political party. It's something everyone should care about. A big change happened recently. A group called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made some new rules. They decided to change when babies get the Hepatitis B vaccine. They also made it harder for kids to get the combined MMR and chickenpox vaccine. These changes didn't happen because of new science. They just caused more confusion for parents. Things got even more confusing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is changing the childhood immunization schedule. They are doing this without the usual science-backed process. This makes it harder for families to know what vaccines their kids need.The results are already showing. In 2024, there were only 285 measles cases in the U. S. But by December 2025, that number jumped to almost seven times more. Measles is a serious disease. It can cause big problems, especially for kids and vulnerable people. Iowa's leaders need to take this seriously. They should follow the science and support health care workers. People like pharmacists know that vaccines are safe and effective. They have been protecting communities for decades. Iowa has some leaders who understand this. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks used to lead the Iowa Department of Public Health. Reps. Zach Nunn and Ashley Hinson can also help. They should make sure Iowans get the right information about vaccines. Vaccines have been around for a long time. They have very few side effects. Iowans deserve leaders who will follow the science and keep them safe.