WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – We’re starting a new school year and your child’s safety is of the utmost importance, including making sure all vaccinations are up to date.
Health experts say vaccinating your child is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and the community from disease. This year, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services released updated guidelines that parents should know before their children go back to school.
“Most importantly, it would be to introduce meningococcal vaccination before entering seventh grade and an additional booster vaccination for students entering twelfth grade,” said Dr. Amanda Weeks, general practitioner at Aspirus Health.
Parents are not can no longer self-report chickenpox to exempt their children from the varicella vaccine or the chickenpox vaccine. Health experts say there is only one way parents can get an exemption.
“A diagnosis of varicella must be made by a licensed health care professional,” said Dr. Weeks. “Otherwise, parent report for varicella will no longer be accepted in schools.”
Dr. Weeks says these new guidelines will come into effect school year. If you are not sure whether your child has the latest vaccinations, you can contact the state immunization registry.
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