The Wisconsin Student Immunization Law was passed in 1975
establishing required doses of vaccines for children in all Wisconsin
schools and licensed day care centers. The statute (Chapter 252) and
administrative rule (HFS 144) have been amended numerous times. Below is
summary of the changes and the month and year they became effective.
July
1975 |
- Polio, DTP and measles required at Kindergarten (K) entrance and licensed day care centers.
- Parents could sign "intent" to immunize.
- Waivers for religious and health reasons available.
|
May
1980 |
|
April
1982 |
- Rubella requirement expanded to grades K through 12.
- Mumps added, required at Kindergarten entrance and
licensed day care centers.
|
May
1988 |
- Mumps requirement expanded to grades K through 12.
|
May
1990 |
- Second dose of MMR required in grades K, 6 and 12.
Phased-in to all grades by 1996.
- Mandatory exclusion of non-compliant children in grades K
through 5 if the previous year’s school district
compliance level falls below 99% (beginning in July 1995).
- Parent of non-compliant students issued 2 legal notices.
|
May
1992 |
- Indemnification of physicians covering public health
clinics.
|
April
1996 |
- Annual legislative report required by DHS.
|
June
1997 |
- Hepatitis B added, required in grades K and 7 and licensed
day care centers. Phased-in to all grades by 2004.
- Hib added, required in licensed day care centers.
- One dose of DTaP after the 4th birthday
required.
- Release of immunization information without parental
consent between providers and schools or day care centers.
|
May
2001 |
- Varicella added, required at Kindergarten entrance and
licensed day care centers. Phased-in to all grades by 2006.
- Clarify one dose of DTaP after the 4th birthday
for K entrance only.
- 2-dose hepatitis B formulation is acceptable.
- The age range requirement found in table HFS144.04-A
(administrative rule) that was 5 months through 11 months is
changed to 5 months through 15 months. In addition, the age
range requirement in the same table that was 12 months
through 23 months is changed to 16 months through 23 months.
The vaccines and doses required stayed the same. This change
brings the table in alignment with the current ACIP
recommendations for MMR vaccine.
|
August
2003 |
- 4-day grace period added, applies to age dependent
vaccines.
|
February
2008 |
- 2nd dose of Varicella required at grades K5 (5 year old),
6, and 12. Phased-in to all grades by 2013.
- Tdap added, required for students entering grades 6, 9,
and 12. Phased-in to all grades by 2010.
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) added, required in
licensed day care centers.
- DHS may temporarily suspend a vaccine requirement if there
is a shortage of that vaccine.
- "Written evidence of immunization" to include
electronic record (i.e. registry) as well as paper record.
|
