Meningitis vaccination now required for children in schools and daycares under updated DHS requirements – WQOW TV News 18

WISCONSIN (WQOW) - The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) updated its immunization requirements for children in child care centers and schools Monday.

According to a press release from the DHS, meningitis vaccination is now required. Another change is that a chickenpox infection must be documented by a qualified medical professional.

"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."

No changes were made to existing exemption options for medical, religious, or philosophical reasons.

Vaccination rates in schools has dropped in Wisconsin. This school year, 89.2% of school-age students met the minimum immunization requirements. That's down 0.7% from the previous school year.

"Every day in schools and child care centers across the state kids are playing, learning together, and growing togetherjust 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."

DHS will now work with child care centers and schools to support implementation of these updated requirements.

These changes were initially effective in Wisconsin on February 1, 2023. However, they were paused in March 2023 when some of the requirements were suspended by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. That suspension expired on April 15, 2024, making these school and child care immunization requirements now fully in effect.

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Meningitis vaccination now required for children in schools and daycares under updated DHS requirements - WQOW TV News 18