Some GOP states carving out "natural immunity" exception to COVID vaccine requirements

Republican lawmakers in several states have launched efforts to add exemptions to vaccine requirements for people with so-called "natural immunity" from a previous COVID-19 infection. They're doing so despite evidence that vaccination can cut the risk of COVID-19 even for survivors of the disease, and the fact that there's no easy way to measure the protection offered by a prior infection.

"Unlike what you see going on with some of the federal proposed mandates, other states, is we're actually doing a science-based approach," Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said last week.

The Florida Republican signed a bill he touted as the strongest "anti-mandate action taken by any state." It includes "medical evidence that the employee has immunity to COVID-19" among a list of exemptions employers must allow in their COVID vaccination policies.