Iowa’s Governor Offers Narrow Interpretation Of COVID Bill She Signed Last Month

(Des Moines, IA)  —  Iowa’s governor is offering a narrow interpretation of the bill she signed into law last month concerning COVID vaccination requirements for private-sector workers.  Governor Kim Reynolds says only workers who claim a religious or medical exemption – then have that claim rejected by their employer – are eligible for unemployment benefits.  Reynolds suggests that it won’t be a large group of unvaccinated Iowans qualifying for unemployment benefits.  She says she’s heard from employers, particularly in the health care industry, who are worried about staffing shortages if they are required to dismiss workers who don’t get a COVID shot.  Iowa has joined three multi-state lawsuits challenging federal vaccination requirements.