For Immediate Release
August 16, 2023
Contact: Elizabeth Goodsitt/Jennifer Miller 608-266-1683
DHS Welcomes the CDC Director to Wisconsin to Highlight School Vaccination Rates and Urges Action Ahead of School Year
?Despite an increase, Wisconsin students are still behind in vaccinations required for school, leaving them unprotected against vaccine-preventable diseases
With the school year around the corner, the Department of Health Services (DHS) welcomes CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen today to Wisconsin as part of a nationwide call to action to ensure children are ready for a healthy school year. ?
?We are grateful for Dr. Cohen?s visit to Wisconsin to help us spread this important health message, because we want every child ready and excited for the school year ahead. A critical part is making sure children are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases by staying up to date on school-required vaccinations,? said Kirsten Johnson, Secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. ?Healthy children mean healthier classrooms and healthier communities, and fewer days of missed school for kids and missed work for parents and caregivers.? ?
During the 2022-2023 school year, 89.9% of students met the minimum immunization requirements, a 1.2% increase from the previous school year. Only 2.8% of students in the 2022-2023 school year were behind schedule, a 0.5% decrease from the previous school year. Students in Wisconsin can have immunization requirements waived for religious, personal, or medical reasons. Overall, 5.4% of students had a waiver for one or more vaccines for the 2022-2023 school year, a 1.2% increase from the previous year.?
View the entire news release.
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