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Immunization: 2023 Child Care and 2023-2024 School Year Immunization Requirements

On March 9, 2023, the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules suspended changes to Wisconsin’s administrative code (Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 144) that pertained to school immunization requirements.
 
The changes impacted by the suspension included:
  • A physician, physician assistant, or an advanced practice nurse prescriber must document a reliable history of varicella disease by indicating on the department's student immunization record form that the student has had varicella disease.
  • Updating the definitions of “substantial outbreak” for both child care centers and schools to add chickenpox and meningococcal disease to the definitions.
  • Adding MenACWY-containing vaccine to the requirements for students entering seventh grade, and a booster dose for eligible students entering 12th grade.

We are currently reviewing this information to determine the impacts of the suspension on child care centers and schools. We will update this webpage as soon as possible with additional clarification.

On January 30, 2023, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) updated Wisconsin’s administrative code (Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 144), which outlines immunization requirements for child care and school entry. These changes went into effect for child care centers on February 1, 2023, and will go into effect for school-age children at the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

These updates will help Wisconsin students, educators, and staff stay safer, healthier, and in school by bringing Wisconsin closer to the current nationwide vaccine recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a group of medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the United States.

Overview of updates

Changes to Wisconsin’s child care and school-required immunizations will improve protection for children across the state by protecting them against vaccine-preventable illnesses, including meningitis, whooping cough, and chickenpox. View the full text of changes or view a summary of the changes.

Changes include:

  • Changing the grade at which the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine) is required to the start of seventh grade. Previously this vaccine was required at the start of sixth grade. This change is to better align with the recommended age (age 11) at which children should receive the vaccine.
  • Adding MenACWY-containing vaccine to the requirements for students entering seventh grade, and a booster dose for eligible students entering 12th grade.
  • Permitting exceptions to the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine requirement for child care centers and schools only if the child’s case has been confirmed by a qualified health care provider. Parental confirmation is no longer accepted, however existing exemption options still apply.
  • Updating the definitions of “substantial outbreak” for both child care centers and schools by revising to align with CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) definitions and to add chickenpox and meningococcal disease to the definitions.
  • Requiring schools to provide reports of vaccine compliance and disease outbreaks to DHS in addition to the previously existing requirement to report to local health departments.
  • Removing outdated provisions relating to the 2008-2009 phase-in of Tdap and varicella vaccines.

What has not changed?

  • The updated requirements leave in place the already established list of required vaccinations.
  • In addition, the existing exemption options for medical, religious, or philosophical reasons are still available.
  • There is no requirement for seasonal flu vaccination or COVID-19 vaccination. These remain strongly recommended by leading health experts, including DHS, CDC, AAP, ACOG, AAFP, and others.

When will the new rules go into effect?

Requirements for child care centers are effective as of February 1, 2023. Requirements for school-age children will go into effect at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.

Resources

For more information on routine childhood vaccines: View the CDC Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule.

Learn about vaccine safety:

Learn more about the history of Wisconsin school and child care center vaccines: View the History of the Wisconsin Student Immunization page.

Last revised March 9, 2023