Can Iowa Employers Require Employees to Take the COVID-19 Vaccine? In Most Cases, Yes.

December 17, 2020

As Iowa prepares to deploy and administer the COVID-19 vaccine over the coming weeks and months, companies might wonder if they can require individuals who work for them to receive the vaccine to ensure a safe working environment. According to Drake University Law School Associate Professor Denise Hill, the answer in most cases is yes. In an article posted by WHO 13 News, Hill confirms “there is a strong case for a legal basis to do so” regarding mandated vaccines. She goes on to say the law goes back to 1905 when a smallpox outbreak occurred and confirms there would likely be exemptions for taking the vaccine including religious beliefs and medical reasons. This is just one of the critical decisions employers will have to make as the vaccine becomes more widely available to the public next year.