The Sconi

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has released new data showing that 86.4% of students met the minimum immunization requirements for the 2024-2025 school year, a slight decrease compared to last year. The drop is attributed to unfamiliarity with a new meningitis vaccination requirement for students in grades 7 to 12. When excluding this new requirement, 89.3% of students met the minimum vaccination standards, which represents a small increase from the previous school year.

This announcement comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a national report indicating that Wisconsin kindergartners continue to fall behind other states in protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.

"Our school vaccination data tells us there are children in our schools who are not protected from an outbreak of preventable diseases like measles," said State Health Officer Paula Tran. "In public health, we know that 95% of people in a community need to be vaccinated against measles in order to prevent an outbreak, which is why it's so important to get children the vaccines they need on time."

DHS tracks vaccination rates statewide across both public and private schools and shares detailed information at county, district, and school levels with local health departments before each academic year. This allows communities to identify areas where children may face higher risks from illnesses or disease.

Last year saw nearly 3,000 cases of whooping cough reported in Wisconsin classrooms, according to DHS records. Nationwide, vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles have also been increasing; current U.S. measles cases are at their highest level in more than three decades due to large outbreaks elsewhere. Measles remains highly contagious and can lead to hospitalization for one out of every four infected individuals.

"Vaccination is the first line of defense for your child's health. Each vaccine is approved only after being proven safe and effective," said Stephanie Schauer, director of the Wisconsin Immunization Program. "Taking time now to ensure your children have received the recommended vaccines will make them less likely to get seriously ill, meaning less time out of school and away from work. And routine vaccines don't just protect your child—they help keep classrooms and the whole community safe."

Parents can check their child's vaccination status through the Wisconsin Immunization Registry or by contacting healthcare providers or local health departments. Programs exist for uninsured or underinsured children who may qualify for free or low-cost vaccinations through Vaccines for Children.

For more information about vaccines visit: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/vaccine-facts.htm

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