What you need to know about Wisconsin’s new school vaccine guidelines

As Wisconsin students prepare for the 2024-25 school year, new vaccination guidelines are being introduced to enhance health and safety in schools.

These updates aim to provide better protection against serious diseases and align with national recommendations, according to an Aspirus press release.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), updated requirements now include:

• Meningococcal vaccine: Students entering seventh grade are now required to receive the meningococcal vaccine, with a booster dose needed before entering 12th grade. This vaccine helps protect against serious infections of the brain and spinal cord.

• Varicella (Chickenpox) documentation: Parents can no longer use self-reported chickenpox history to exempt their children from the varicella vaccine requirement. Instead, a diagnosis from a healthcare professional is necessary to prove immunity, ensuring accurate documentation.

In light of these updates, Dr. Natalie Weeks, a Family Medicine physician at Aspirus Merrill Clinic, emphasizes the broader importance of vaccines: “Vaccines not only protect your child, but they also protect the community at large, especially those who may be immunocompromised or have a harder time fighting off infections. We are very lucky to have these vaccines to prevent potentially deadly diseases.”

The new guidelines take effect immediately for childcare centers, with the first assessment under these criteria scheduled for spring 2025. For school-aged children, the updated requirements will be enforced starting this school year.

“If parents are concerned or have any questions at all about vaccinating their children, I encourage them to talk to their child’s primary care provider,” Dr. Weeks said.

For more information on the updated requirements and to check your child’s vaccine status, visit the Wisconsin DHS website or contact your health care provider.