MILWAUKEE — Kindergarten vaccination rates for preventable diseases, like pertussis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, are among the lowest in the country in Wisconsin, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows. 


What You Need To Know

  • Children in Wisconsin fall behind other states' vaccination rates for vaccines such as polio, pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus, and measles, mumps and rubella
  • In the report, 84.8% of Wisconsin kindergarteners were up to date on the MMR vaccine. Nationally, that number is much higher, with 92.7% having received the vaccine
  • Data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services was used to compare kindergartener vaccination rates for the 2023-24 school year to the same data in other states

Tashanda Edelen, manager of health services for Milwaukee Public Schools, oversees vaccination compliance for approximately 75,000 students in 150 schools.

She said MPS isn’t seeing a decline in kindergarten vaccinations.

“The trend for me is that parents are getting their kids vaccinated,” Edelen said. “But in the boosters, such as TDAP, I have seen a decline, especially in students from seventh grade and up.”

To make sure families are getting school-required vaccines, Edelen and her team focus on outreach and education. They also partner with city health officials to host free vaccination clinics.

“We held four vaccination clinics with the Milwaukee Health Department at two of our MPS sites,” Edelen said. “We had a very, very excellent turnout.”

Despite progress in Milwaukee, statewide kindergarten vaccination rates have been declining since the pandemic.

Dr. Stephanie Schauer, immunization program manager for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, emphasized the risks associated with low vaccination rates.

“These low vaccination rates are very worrisome, especially since some pockets of the state have dangerously low rates,” Schauer said. “These low vaccination rates are very worrisome, especially since some pockets of the state have dangerously low rates,” Schauer said. “These areas are not protected against preventable diseases.”

In Wisconsin, families are required by law to get their children all routine vaccinations to attend school, unless they have an exemption for a medical or religious reason, or personal convictions.

The latest numbers from the CDC show as kindergarten vaccinations have dropped over the last few years in Wisconsin, exemption requests have risen.

“We know immunization rates can be affected by misinformation and family challenges, like accessing clinics or health care providers,” said Schauer.

Both Edelen and Schauer are working to address barriers by combating false information and improving access to vaccines for families.

“This year, we increased our efforts to ensure students were vaccinated. The health department reported a surge in families showing up,” said Edelen. 

The goal is to reverse the decline in vaccination rates statewide, protecting Wisconsin children and communities from preventable, contagious diseases.

You can find information on recommended vaccines, here

The next free vaccination clinics at Milwaukee Public Schools are:

Saturday, Feb. 1   
9 a.m. - noon
South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Blvd.

Saturday, Feb. 22   
9 a.m. - noon 
North Division High School, 1011 W. Center St.