Immunization Information and School Requirements

Student Immunization Law

Age/Grade Requirements

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 his or her age. Please contact your doctor or local health department to determine if your child needs additional immunizations.

Grade/Age	Number of Doses
Pre-K (ages 2 through 4 yrs)1	4 DTaP/DTP/DT2		3 Polio	3 Hepatitis B6	1 MMR7	1 Varicella8
Kindergarten through Grade 5	4 DTaP/DTP/DT/Td2,3		4 Polio5	3 Hepatitis B6	2 MMR7	2 Varicella8
Grades 6 through 12	4 DTaP/DTP/DT/Td2	1 Tdap4	4 Polio5	3 Hepatitis B6	2 MMR7	2 Varicella8

1. Children 5 years of age or older who are enrolled in a Pre-K class should be assessed using the immunization requirements for Kindergarten through Grade 5, which would normally correspond to the individual’s age.

2. D = diphtheria, T = tetanus, P = pertussis vaccine. DTaP/DTP/DT/Td vaccine for all students Pre-K through 12: Four doses are required. However, if a student received the 3 rd dose after the 4 th birthday, further doses are not required. Note: A dose four days or less before the 4 th birthday is also acceptable.

3. DTaP/DTP/DT vaccine for children entering Kindergarten: Each student must have received one dose after the 4 th birthday (either the 3rd , 4th , or 5th dose) to be compliant. Note: a dose four days or less before the 4 th birthday is also acceptable.

4. Tdap is an adolescent tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis combination vaccine. If a student received a dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine, such as Td, within five years before entering the grade in which Tdap is required, the student is compliant and a dose of Tdap vaccine is not required.

5. Polio vaccine for students entering grades Kindergarten through 12: Four doses are required. However, if a student received the 3rd dose after the 4 th birthday, further doses are not required. Note: a dose four days or less before the 4 th birthday is also acceptable.

6. Laboratory evidence of immunity to hepatitis B is also acceptable.

7. MMR is measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. The first dose of MMR vaccine must have been received on or after the 1 st birthday. Laboratory evidence of immunity to all three diseases (measles and mumps and rubella) is also acceptable. Note: A dose four days or less before the 1 st birthday is also acceptable.

8. Varicella vaccine is chickenpox vaccine. A history of chickenpox disease or laboratory evidence of immunity to varicella is also acceptable.

Dear Parent/Guardian of 6th Grade Student:

In 2008, the Wisconsin Student Immunization law added the Tdap vaccine for students entering grades 6 through 12. You are receiving this letter because our records show that your incoming 6th grade child may not have received the Tdap vaccine. The following information should help answer your questions about the requirements:

1. What is the requirement?

• 1 dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine) for students entering grades 6-12

2. What do parents/guardians need to do?

• Enclosed is the immunization record we have at school for your child. Have your child vaccinated with the Tdap vaccine if he or she has not already received the vaccine.
  • If you have already given permission for MMSD to exchange immunization information with the Wisconsin Immunization Registry, your child’s updated immunization information will automatically be provided to MMSD.
  • If you have not given permission to exchange immunization information, please submit immunization information:
    • Online at https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/student-staff-support/health-services/student-immunization-record OR
    • Fax it to (608) 204-0349
• To claim a personal, religious or medical waiver, follow the instructions on the Student Immunization Record and return the signed form to your child’s school.

3. Are there exceptions to the Tdap vaccine requirements?

• If your child will be entering grades 6-12 and already received a tetanus-containing vaccine (e.g. Td vaccine) within the last 5 years, your child is compliant and Tdap vaccine is not required at this time.

4. If my child already had pertussis disease, should they still get the Tdap vaccine?

• Children who have had pertussis disease should receive the Tdap according to the routine recommendations because the length of protection provided by having the disease is unknown and because the diagnosis can be difficult to confirm.

5. Where can I get the Tdap vaccine for my child?

• This vaccine is available from your child’s primary care provider. Please schedule an appointment with your primary care provider soon to avoid the late summer rush at clinics.
• If your child is uninsured, has BadgerCare or Medical Assistance, has “major medical insurance” (only covering hospitalization; no preventive care coverage), or is Native American or Alaska Native, the vaccine can be received from the local public health department.
• For information about public health department immunization clinic schedules:
  • Go to https://www.publichealthmdc.com/health-services/immunizations/for-infants-children-teens OR
  • Call Public Health Madison-Dane County at (608) 266-4821.

6. I’m not sure if my child had this vaccine. Is there somewhere I can access their records?

• 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 Public Immunization Records Access link to view your child’s record.

Sincerely,

Kari Stampfli
Interim Director of Health Services

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 click on the ‘Public Immunization Records Access’ tab to view your child’s record.

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 his/her 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,
Interim Director of Health Services