Immunization Information and School Requirements

Wisconsin Changes School Immunization Requirements for 2023-24 School Year

Wisconsin Department of Health Services has announced changes to the Wisconsin Student Immunization law (WI Administrative Code Ch. DHS 144 Immunization of Students) that was originally passed in 1975 and has gone through several changes since then. The law sets forth a minimum immunization requirement for school age children to prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable disease amongst Wisconsin students.

Effective beginning 2023-24 school year the following changes to the WI Student Immunization Law will be implemented.

Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) vaccine shifts from 6^th grade entrance requirement to 7^th grade.
The mumps outbreak definition has changed from 2% of the unvaccinated population to 3 or more cases linked by the time and place.

There are no changes to the Wisconsin state statute in terms of waivers to vaccination.

Note: COVID and Flu vaccination is highly encouraged for students; however, it is not a requirement by the WI Student Immunization Law. No need to report your student's COVID and Flu vaccination dates.

Immunization Recommendations and School Requirements

CDC Recommended Vaccine Schedules

2023 Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth Through 6 years old

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Spanish

2023 Recommended Immunizations for Children 7-18 years old

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Spanish

Wisconsin Student Immunization Law

Age/Grade Requirements for 2023-24

The following are the minimum required immunizations for each age and grade level according to the Wisconsin Student Immunization Law. These requirements can be waived for health, religious, or personal conviction reasons. Additional immunizations may be recommended for your child depending on their age. Please contact your doctor or local health department to determine if your child needs additional immunizations.

English	Spanish	Hmong
School Immunization Requirements: Kindergarten-6th Grade	School Immunization Requirements: Kindergarten-6th Grade	School Immunization Requirements: Kindergarten-6th Grade
Vaccines Recommended at Ages 11-12: What Parents Should Know	Vaccines Recommended at Ages 11-12: What Parents Should Know	Vaccines Recommended at Ages 11-12: What Parents Should Know

Letter To Parent/Guardian Of Newly Enrolled MMSD Students

Dear Parent/Guardian of Newly Enrolled MMSD Student:

All students attending Wisconsin Schools must show evidence of having received at least minimum protection against certain vaccine-preventable communicable diseases. School vaccine requirements are MINIMUM requirements and do not include all of the immunizations that are recommended for children. Your health care provider can give you information on the recommended immunization schedule. The student age/grade requirements can be found on the district web site at https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/student-staff-support/health-services/immunization-information-and-school-requirements.

If you are not sure if your child has had these vaccines, check with your health care provider OR you may look up your child’s immunization record on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) at: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/wir.htm. Then scroll to "Step 1" and click on the link to access the WIR public records portal in your preferred language.

MMSD may be able to obtain your child’s immunization record directly from WIR if you indicate during the school registration process that you allow release of your child’s immunization record to WIR. If your child’s record is not in WIR or MMSD is unable to obtain it, we ask you to provide immunization information by recording the date of the immunization in the appropriate box of the Student Immunization Record, sign the form, and return to your child’s school or complete the MMSD’s online immunization record at: https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/student-staff-support/health-services/student-immunization-record

Once the school district receives your child's immunization record, the school nurse will review it and contact you if your child's immunizations do not meet the minimum requirements for their grade level. If your child needs further immunizations, they can be received from your child's health care provider, or from the local public health department for those who are uninsured. For further information about public health department immunization clinic schedules, go to https://www.publichealthmdc.com/health-services/immunizations/for-infants-children-teens or call (608) 266-4821.

Communicable diseases can lead to serious complications. The school immunization law is intended to protect everyone in the school setting. School immunization requirements can be waived only if a properly signed health, religious, or personal conviction waiver is filed with the school. Waiver forms can be obtained from the school nurse or on the printable form at https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/student-staff-support/health-services/student-immunization-record.

If you have any questions about the requirements, please contact your child's school health office, your child’s health care provider or your public health department. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Kari Stampfli ,
Health Services Coach / Lead Nurse