UW-Madison to require students share vaccination status for measles
Measles outbreak ‘is still hot’ in US, says former CDC official
South Carolina reported a surge to 933 measles cases on Feb. 10, state health data showed, including 13 additional infections in the last week.
UW-Madison has announced it will now require students to share their vaccination status for multiple diseases, including measles.
The policy change comes after a measles case in a UW-Madison student, which was reported in early February. The student visited several locations on and off campus while contagious, and university officials had to notify about 4,000 people who may have been exposed.
Previously, students could choose whether to report their vaccination status to the university. Now, they will have to share whether they have received the following vaccines, or be prohibited from registering for classes:
- Measles, mumps and rubella
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis
- Varicella (chicken pox)
- Meningococcal (ACWY, B)
- Hepatitis B
The new policy does not mean they have to be vaccinated, just that they have to share their information.
To comply with the policy, students must either document their immunity status by providing vaccination records or other evidence of immunity, or disclose they are not vaccinated by completing a form. Students who complete the form will not be required to provide a rationale for why they are not vaccinated, according to the policy.
The change was announced in an email to students and was first reported by one of the university’s student newspapers, the Daily Cardinal. It comes during a surging U.S. measles outbreak with case numbers not seen in decades. Three cases have been reported in Wisconsin.
No UW System campus requires that students be vaccinated against measles. Unlike UW-Madison, the large majority of other Big Ten universities require the vaccine. UW-Madison considered making it a requirement in 2019 but ultimately made no change.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is about 97% effective at preventing infection and can reduce illness severity.
Kelly Meyerhofer of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.
Madeline Heim covers health and the environment for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at 920-996-7266 or [email protected].
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