State Immunization Laws for Healthcare
Workers and Patients

Immunization Administration Requirements
For State: WI

** Click on each result to read the abridged text of the state immunization law.

Patient Type Vaccine Requirement
Hospital Employees  Hepatitis B[1] No 
  Influenza[2] No 
  MMR[3] Ensure[295]
  Varicella[4] No 
  Pneumococcal[5] No 
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[6] No 
Hospital Inpatients  Influenza[7] No 
  Pneumococcal[8] No 
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[9] No 
Individual Providers' Patients  Any Immunization[10] No 
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[11] No 
Ambulatory Care Facilities Employees  Any Immunization[12] Ensure[296]
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[13] No 
Ambulatory Care Facilities Patients  Any Immunization[14] No 
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[15] No 
Correctional Inmates and Residents  Any Immunization[16] Ensure[297]
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[17] Yes – (M)[298]
Developmentally Disabled Facility Residents  Any Immunization[18] Ensure[299]
  Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[19] Yes – (M)[300]
  []
[1] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer hepatitis B vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine?

[2] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer influenza vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with influenza vaccine?

[3] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine (or any component thereof) to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with MMR vaccine?

[4] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer varicella vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with varicella vaccine?

[5] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine?  Top of Page

[6] If any hospitals are required to ensure that any hospital employees are vaccinated with hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, varicella or pneumococcal vaccine, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?

[7] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer any inpatients of the hospital influenza vaccine, or ensure that any inpatients are vaccinated with influenza vaccine?

[8] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer any inpatients of the hospital pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or ensure that any inpatients are vaccinated with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine?

[9] If any hospitals are required to ensure that any hospital inpatients are vaccinated with influenza or pneumococcal vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?  Top of Page

[10] Does the jurisdiction require that any individual healthcare providers offer any vaccinations to any patients, or ensure that any patients are vaccinated with any vaccines?

[11] If any individual providers are required to ensure that any of their patients are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?

[12] Does the jurisdiction require that any ambulatory care facilities offer any vaccinations to any employees, or ensure that any employees are vaccinated with any vaccines?

[13] If any ambulatory care facilities are required to ensure that any employees are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?  Top of Page

[14] Does the jurisdiction require that any ambulatory care facilities offer any vaccinations to any patients, or ensure that any patients are vaccinated with any vaccines?

[15] If any ambulatory care facilities are required to ensure that any patients are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide for any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?

[16] Does the jurisdiction require that any correctional facilities or juvenile detention centers offer any vaccinations to any inmates or juveniles, or ensure that any inmates or juveniles are vaccinated with any vaccines?

[17] If any correctional centers or juvenile detention centers are required to ensure that any inmates or juveniles are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide for any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?  Top of Page

[18] Does the jurisdiction require that any residential facilities for the developmentally disabled or mentally retarded offer any residents any vaccinations, or ensure that any residents are vaccinated with any vaccines?

[19] If any residential facilities for the developmentally disabled or mentally retarded are required to ensure that any residents are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide for any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?

[295] For Wisconsin requirements, see Wis. Adm. Code § 124.07, relating to “hospitals.” Wis. Adm. Code § 124.07 provides that the hospital's employee health program shall include vaccination or confirmed immunity against rubella for everyone who has direct contact with rubella patients, pediatric patients or female patients of childbearing age. No individual without documented vaccination against or immunity to rubella may be placed in a position in which he or she has direct contact with rubella patients, pediatric patients or female patients of childbearing age, except that individuals placed in these positions before February 1, 1988 shall have one year after February 1, 1988 to comply with this requirement, and that individuals newly placed in these positions on or after February 1, 1988 shall have 30 days after they begin working in these positions to comply with this requirement. Wis. Stat. § 50.33 defines a “hospital” as any building, structure, institution or place devoted primarily to the maintenance and operation of facilities for the diagnosis, treatment of, and medical or surgical care for 3 or more non-related individuals hereinafter designated patients, suffering from illness, disease, injury, or disability, whether physical or mental, and including pregnancy, and regularly making available at least clinical laboratory services, and diagnostic X-ray services and treatment facilities for surgery, or obstetrical care, or other definitive medical treatment. “Hospital” may include, but not in limitation thereof by enumeration, related facilities such as outpatient facilities, nurses’, interns’, and resident’s quarters, training facilities and central service facilities operated in connection with hospitals. “Hospital” includes “special hospitals” or those hospital facilities that provide a limited type of medical or surgical care, including orthopedic hospitals, children’s hospitals, critical access hospitals, mental hospitals, psychiatric hospitals or maternity hospitals.

[296] For Wisconsin requirements, see Wis. Adm. Code § 124.07, relating to “hospitals.” Wis. Adm. Code § 124.07 provides that the hospital's employee health program shall include vaccination or confirmed immunity against rubella for everyone who has direct contact with rubella patients, pediatric patients or female patients of childbearing age. No individual without documented vaccination against or immunity to rubella may be placed in a position in which he or she has direct contact with rubella patients, pediatric patients or female patients of childbearing age, except that individuals placed in these positions before February 1, 1988 shall have one year after February 1, 1988 to comply with this requirement, and that individuals newly placed in these positions on or after February 1, 1988 shall have 30 days after they begin working in these positions to comply with this requirement. Wis. Stat. § 50.33 defines a “hospital” as any building, structure, institution or place devoted primarily to the maintenance and operation of facilities for the diagnosis, treatment of, and medical or surgical care for 3 or more non-related individuals hereinafter designated patients, suffering from illness, disease, injury, or disability, whether physical or mental, and including pregnancy, and regularly making available at least clinical laboratory services, and diagnostic X-ray services and treatment facilities for surgery, or obstetrical care, or other definitive medical treatment. “Hospital” may include, but not in limitation thereof by enumeration, related facilities such as outpatient facilities, nurses’, interns’, and resident’s quarters, training facilities and central service facilities operated in connection with hospitals. “Hospital” includes “special hospitals” or those hospital facilities that provide a limited type of medical or surgical care, including orthopedic hospitals, children’s hospitals, critical access hospitals, mental hospitals, psychiatric hospitals or maternity hospitals. Because the definition of “hospital” does not restrict covered facilities to those providing 24-hour care, this chart assumes that the definition of “hospital” includes facilities that would be designated “ambulatory care facilities” under the definition provided by this chart.  Top of Page

[297] For Wisconsin requirements, see Wis. Adm. Code § 52.63 and Wis. Admin. Code § 52.41, relating to “residential care centers for children and youth,” and Wis. Adm. Code § 52.05, relating to “child care institutions.” Wis. Adm. Code § 52.63 provides that any child who has not received primary immunization prior to admission against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (to age 6), mumps, rubella, or rubeola shall be so immunized within 30 days after admission. Necessary booster shots shall be administered to children on admission and while in care at time intervals recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Division of Public Health. Wis. Admin. Code § 52.41 provides that each center shall have a written operating plan, describing available treatments. Available treatments shall include health care services to residents, including immunization of residents. Wis. Adm. Code § 52.03 defines a “residential care center for children and youth” as a residential facility required to be licensed as a child care agency under Wis. Stat. § 48.60, which provides treatment and custodial services for children, youth and young adults ages 18, 19, and 20. Note that “residential care centers for children and youth” were formerly called child care institutions, and in Wis. Stat. § 48 are referred to as child welfare agencies. Wis. Adm. Code § 52.05 provides that any child who has not received primary immunization prior to admission against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (to age 6), mumps, rubella, or rubeola shall be so immunized within 30 days after admission. Necessary booster shots shall be administered to children on admission and while in care at time intervals recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Division of Health. Wis. Adm. Code § 52.63 defines “child care institution” as a child welfare agency which regularly provides care and maintenance for children within the confines of its building. Wis. Adm. Code § 52.63 defines a “child welfare agency” as any person required to be licensed under Wis. Stat. § 48.60. Wis. Stat. § 48.60 provides that no person may receive children, with or without transfer of legal custody, to provide care and maintenance for 75 days in any consecutive 12-month period for 4 or more such children at any one time unless that person obtains a license to operate a child welfare agency from the department. Based on a plain reading of the definitional language, this chart assumes that “residential care centers for youth and children” and “child care institutions” include juvenile detention centers.

[298] For Wisconsin, for medical exemptions to the immunization requirements of Wis. Admin. Code §52.41, see Wis. Admin. Code §52.41, providing that immunization requirements are inapplicable if otherwise directed by a physician in writing, according to Wis. Adm. Code § 144. Wis. Adm. Code § 144.04 provides that where certification by a licensed physician that an immunization required under Wis. Stat. § 252.04 is or may be harmful to the health of a student is provided, the requirements for that immunization shall be waived by the department. Written evidence of any required immunization that the student has previously received shall be submitted to the school or day care center with the waiver form.

[299] For Wisconsin requirements, see Wis. Adm. Code § 52.63 and Wis. Admin. Code § 52.41, relating to “residential care centers for children and youth,” Wis. Adm. Code § 52.05, relating to “child care institutions,” and Wis. Adm. Code § 134.66, relating to “facilities serving people with developmental disabilities.” Wis. Adm. Code § 52.63 provides that any child who has not received primary immunization prior to admission against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (to age 6), mumps, rubella, or rubeola shall be so immunized within 30 days after admission. Necessary booster shots shall be administered to children on admission and while in care at time intervals recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Division of Public Health. Wis. Admin. Code §52.41 provides that each center shall have a written operating plan, describing available treatments. Available treatments shall include health care services to residents, including immunization of residents. Wis. Adm. Code § 52.03 defines a “residential care center for children and youth” as a residential facility required to be licensed as a child care agency under Wis. Stat. § 48.60, which provides treatment and custodial services for children, youth and young adults ages 18, 19, and 20. Note that “residential care centers for children and youth” were formerly called child care institutions, and in Wis. Stat. § 48 are referred to as child welfare agencies. Wis. Adm. Code § 52.05 provides that any child who has not received primary immunization prior to admission against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (to age 6), mumps, rubella, or rubeola shall be so immunized within 30 days after admission. Necessary booster shots shall be administered to children on admission and while in care at time intervals recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Division of Health. Wis. Adm. Code § 52.63 defines “child care institution” as a child welfare agency which regularly provides care and maintenance for children within the confines of its building. Wis. Adm. Code § 52.63 defines a “child welfare agency” as any person required to be licensed under Wis. Stat. § 48.60. Wis. Stat. § 48.60 provides that no person may receive children, with or without transfer of legal custody, to provide care and maintenance for 75 days in any consecutive 12 months period for 4 or more such children at any one time unless that person obtains a license to operate a child welfare agency from the department. Wis. Adm. Code § 134.66 provides that the facility shall promptly detect resident health problems by means of adequate medical surveillance and regular medical examinations, including annual examinations of vision and hearing, routine immunizations and tuberculosis control measures, and shall refer residents for treatment of these problems.

[300] For Wisconsin, for medical exemptions to the immunization requirements of Wis. Admin. Code §52.41, see Wis. Admin. Code §52.41, providing that immunization requirements are inapplicable if otherwise directed by a physician in writing, according to Wis. Adm. Code § 144. Wis. Adm. Code § 144.04 provides that where certification by a licensed physician that an immunization required under Wis. Stat. § 252.04 is or may be harmful to the health of a student is provided, the requirements for that immunization shall be waived by the department. Written evidence of any required immunization that the student has previously received shall be submitted to the school or day care center with the waiver form.  Top of Page

Disclaimer: The purpose of this database is to provide researchers, policymakers, and state and local public health practitioners with descriptive information concerning state immunization-related law. No part of this legal analysis involves providing legal advice or answering specific questions of law on behalf of any person or organization.

 

Page last reviewed: November 19, 2014