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WISCONSIN — The Wisconsin Department of Health announced Wednesday that it has updated vaccination requirements for children attending day care centers and schools for 2023.
What you need to know
- Wisconsin DHS announces new requirements for meningitis, whooping cough and chickenpox vaccinations
- The changes will take effect February 1, 2023 for day care centers and the 2023-24 school year for school-age children.
- Only 88.7% of students met the minimum vaccination requirements in the 2021-22 school year, a decrease of 3.2%.
- Parents can check their child’s immunization record online through the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.
State administrative statutes have been updated to indicate vaccination requirements for childcare and school enrollment and low vaccination rates for children in these settings.
Only about 88.7% of students met the minimum immunization requirements for the 2021-22 school year, down about 3.2% from the previous year.
The requirements for meningitis and pertussis (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) vaccination and records of chickenpox infection have changed.
“These updates will help Wisconsin students, educators, and staff stay safer, healthier, and in school. We can approach the current national vaccine recommendations: Recommendations for Vaccine Use in the United States,” said the DHS leader in an updated release.
For meningitis, 7th grade students should be vaccinated with MenACWY for enrollment in grades 7-11. With some exceptions, 12th graders still need boosters. A child does not need a booster if she is 16 years of age or older and she has received her first dose of a vaccine containing MenACWY. A person who received the first dose between the ages of 11 and her 15 years needs a booster.
Previously, this meningitis vaccine was not required. Officials said the change would help prevent an outbreak of meningitis in Wisconsin schools.
The first dose of pertussis vaccine (Tdap) is required in Year 7. Previously, this was given to her 6th grade students. DHS said the change will allow the child to meet her 11-year-old recommended age requirement for vaccination.
Childcare centers and schools will also no longer accept parent or guardian reports of chickenpox cases as exceptions to vaccination. These agencies currently only accept adequate documentation of chickenpox cases from medical professionals.
“Each of these vaccines is already recommended for children, and today’s update improves their protection. We are choosing not only to protect our communities, but to protect the people who live and work in our communities,” said Deb Standridge, DHS Deputy Commissioner.
The changes will go into effect on February 1, 2023 for day care centers and at the beginning of school year 2023-24 for school-age children.
DHS officials said there would be no changes to existing exemptions for medical, religious or philosophical reasons, and seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are not mandatory but strongly recommended.
Parents or guardians can call 211 to find a local clinic provider or visit a Children’s Vaccine Program provider who offers free or low-cost vaccines to eligible individuals.
You can check your child’s immunization record online at the Wisconsin Immunization Registry or by contacting your primary care physician, provider, community clinic, or local or tribal health department.
A complete schedule of when your child should be immunized can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
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