WISCONSIN — On Monday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) updated the list of immunization updates children need to attend child care centers and schools. 

Children will now be required to have a meningitis vaccination. Additionally, any chickenpox infections must be documented. Also, any child entering seventh grade is now required to get a meningococcal vaccine. Students entering 12th grade must have a meningococcal booster.

Wisconsin DHS said these changes will be implemented for the 2024-25 school year. Child care centers will start working with parents now to make sure kids have proper chickenpox documentation or vaccination.

“For decades, both varicella [chicken pox] and meningitis vaccines have been recommended as safe and effective for children by medical experts, and this update to our state requirements improves how we can protect children as well as their entire schools and communities from these vaccine-preventable illnesses,” said DHS secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. “When parents make the choice to keep their child up to date on vaccinations, it not only protects their own child, but also protects other children, their families, and the people who live and work in our schools and communities.”

Wisconsin DHS said the changes align with long-standing federal recommendations.

According to Wisconsin DHS, 89.2% of school-age students met the minimum immunization requirements during the 2023-24 school year. That’s down by 0.7% from the 2022-23 school year.

Wisconsin DHS also reported that 1.9% of school-aged students were behind schedule on their vaccinations, which was a 0.9% decrease from the 2022-23 school year. Wisconsin DHS said if a child is behind schedule for recommended vaccines, parents and guardians should contact their regular doctor or clinic. Those without a regular doctor or clinic, or whose health insurance does not cover the cost of vaccines, can find no-cost and low-cost providers offering vaccines for kids, here or by calling 211. 

Parents and guardians can contact their child’s regular care provider if they have questions about their child’s vaccine records, or they can look it up online via the Wisconsin Immunization Registry. 

“Every day in schools and child care centers across the state, kids are playing, learning together, and growing together — just as they should. This also creates a higher chance for illnesses to spread. Vaccines safeguard each child who is vaccinated — and the more children who are vaccinated, the more protected an entire school and community is,” said state health officer Paula Tran. “To keep kids healthy and fully participating in school activities and after school events, DHS encourages parents and caregivers to talk to their pediatricians and make sure their children are up to date on immunizations.”

Wisconsin DHS said no changes were made to existing exemptions for medical, religious or philosophical reasons.

These changes were initially implemented Feb. 1, 2023. However, the implementation was paused on March 9, 2023, as “some of the requirements were suspended by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules.” The suspension expired on April 15, 2024, meaning the immunization requirements are now fully in effect.

Learn more about immunizations required by Wisconsin schools and child care centers, here.