Immunizations

Student Immunization Law Age/Grade Requirements

Yes! This year, Wisconsin has added a requirement for the Meningococcal or MenACWY-containing vaccine. This vaccination is required for students entering 7th grade and a booster does at 12th grade. 

Note that if your 12th grade student did not receive the first dose until after age 16, then a booster dose is not required for them. 

If your child will not receive this vaccine due to health, personal, or religious reasons, you may opt out of this new requirement by completing an exemption waiver. *If you previously completed an exemption waiver for other vaccines, you must complete a new, updated waiver this school year to show exemption for this newly added vaccine requirement. The link to the updated exemption waiver is provided below.

The exemption waiver can be found here: Student Immunization Record. Steps 1, 4, and 5 must be complete for this waiver to be valid. If you are unable to complete Step 2, you must provide a printed copy of your child’s immunization record as well (this information can be found on WIR or provided by your primary care provider’s office).

The Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) is an online database that tracks vaccine records for Wisconsin children and adults. You can find your child’s vaccine records using their first and last names, date of birth, and either their social security number, Medicaid ID number, or health care member ID number.

You can also call the office of your child’s primary care provider to request a copy of their immunization record.

If your child received their immunizations outside of the state of Wisconsin, you will need to contact your child’s primary care provider’s office or log into that state’s immunization registry to get this information.

For more information about using WIR visit: Wisconsin Immunization Registry

You can call to schedule an immunization appointment with your child’s primary care provider, the Richland County Public Health Department, or at a local pharmacy. 

If you do not have health insurance, or your insurance does not cover the cost of vaccines, your child can receive vaccines for free at the public health department through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. For more information about this vaccine clinic or to schedule an appointment call the Richland County Public Health Department at (608)647-8821.

For more information about VFC visit: Vaccines for Children Program

Yes! As long as your child is feeling well and there is not an active outbreak of a vaccine-preventable communicable disease, your child may continue to attend school until they have received all their required vaccines, as long as they receive the required vaccines by the 30th day of school (approximately October 15th).

Children are still considered compliant with the Wisconsin Student Immunization Law and may attend school if the school has a signed immunization waiver on file by the 30th day of school. 

If your child cannot receive a vaccine for health reasons, their primary care provider must complete this form. If your child will not receive any or all vaccines for personal or religious reasons, the parent or guardian may complete this form.

The exemption waiver can be found here: Student Immunization Record. Steps 1, 4, and 5 must be completed for this waiver to be valid. If you are unable to complete Step 2, you must provide a printed copy of your child’s immunization record as well (this information can be found on WIR or provided by your primary care provider’s office).

*It is important to note that incompletely immunized students may be excluded from school if an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable communicable disease (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, meningitis) occurs, even if an exemption waiver is on file.

Wisconsin Student Immunization Law: Immunization of Students

• If you have any additional questions please contact your child’s primary care provider or school nurse.