Wisconsin has updated immunization requirements for schools, child care. Here's what to know

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has updated its vaccine requirements for school-age children. These new rules will go into effect at the start of the 2024-25 school year.

School-age children are not the only ones seeing changes in requirements. The changes have already been in effect for child care programs; however, the first assessment using this criteria will be in spring 2025, Wisconsin DHS' website said.

Wisconsin allows exemptions for medical, religious or philosophical reasons.

Here’s what you need to know:

What has changed?

As the Wisconsin Department of Health Services described in a webinar, the changes are:

• Students entering seventh grade must have a meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine, with a required booster dose for students entering 12th grade. Students who receive their first dose after age 16 are not required to get a booster.

• To be exempt from the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine requirement that’s needed for admission into child care centers and schools, students must now have a confirmed case from a qualified health care provider. Previously, a parent or guardian just had to report that their child had a case.

• The definition of an outbreak now includes varicella and meningococcal. For more on this definition, visit bit.ly/Wisschoolvaxchanges .

What vaccines are required for my child in Fox Valley schools?

Public and private schools, as well as licensed child care centers, are subject to these state DHS requirements, explained Dr. Stephanie Schauer, Wisconsin immunization program manager at DHS.

The vaccines a student is required to have vary based on age and grade level, unless they have a waiver.

Child care or preschool

To enter a child care or a preschool program, children ages 2, 3 and 4 need:

• Three doses of the polio vaccine.

• Four doses of DTaP/DPT/DT/TD (combination vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, the latter meaning whooping cough). If they receive their third dose after their fourth birthday, or four days or fewer before this birthday, no further doses are required of this vaccine.

• One dose of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella). The first dose must have been received on or after a child’s first birthday, or four days before their first birthday. Laboratory evidence of immunity to these three diseases is also sufficient.

• Three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine. They do not need the vaccine if laboratory evidence shows they have immunity to hepatitis B.

• One dose of varicella (chicken pox). Under the changes, this is not required if a qualified medical professional documents the student had a confirmed case of chicken pox; verification from a parent or guardian alone is no longer accepted.

• Three doses of the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine.

• Three doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Kindergarten through 12th grade

To enter kindergarten through 12th grade (or to enroll in pre-K for children 5 years and older), Wisconsin students must have the following:

• Four doses of polio vaccine. If the student had a third dose on or after their fourth birthday, or four days or fewer before this birthday, they do not need a fourth dose.

• Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine. They do not need the vaccine if laboratory evidence shows they have immunity to hepatitis B.

• Four doses of DTaP/DPT/DT/TD (combination vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis). The student must get a dose — either their third, fourth or fifth dose — on or after their fourth birthday, or four days before this birthday.

• Two doses of varicella (chicken pox). Under the new changes, this is not required if a qualified medical professional documents the student had a confirmed case of chicken pox. Verification from a parent or guardian alone is no longer accepted.

• Two doses MMR (measles, mumps and rubella). The first dose must have been received on or after a child’s first birthday, or four days before their first birthday. Laboratory evidence of immunity to these three diseases is also sufficient.

• To enter seventh grade, specifically, they need one Tdap (adolescent tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis combination). If they received a dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine within five years of entering seventh grade, they do not need an additional dose to meet this requirement.

• Under the changes, to enter seventh grade, specifically, they also need one MenACWY-containing (meningococcal) vaccine.

• Under the changes, they need a booster dose of the MenACWY-containing vaccine to enter 12th grade, unless their first dose was given on or after their 16th birthday.

If students had a parental report of chicken pox before 2024, the changes do not require families to submit additional verification. In cases of questions, contact your child’s school.

For a full list of vaccine requirements, including those for children younger than 5, visit bit.ly/WisschoolandCCvax .

Are there exceptions to these rules?

Yes, Wisconsin still offers exemptions for medical, religious or philosophical reasons, a Wisconsin DHS news release said.

Contact your school to obtain such paperwork or if you have questions.

When does my child need to be compliant?

A child may be excluded from school if they do not comply with immunization requirements (this includes having a waiver). They may also face court action and/or a “forfeiture penalty,” according to a legal notice form Wisconsin schools can use.

How can I get my child's immunization records?

Parents and guardians can get questions answered about their child’s vaccination record through their local health department or health care provider.

To look up your child’s immunization records, check the Wisconsin Immunization Registry online at dhfswir.org . This contains all vaccinations given in Wisconsin.

Madison Lammert covers child care and early education across Wisconsin as a Report for America corps member based at The Appleton Post-Crescent. To contact her, email mlammert@gannett.com or call 920-993-7108 . Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to Report for America by visiting postcrescent.com/RFA .

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Wisconsin has updated immunization requirements for schools, child care. Here's what to know