Republicans block meningitis, chickenpox vaccine mandates

Wisconsin Republicans have blocked Gov. Tony Evers’ plan to mandate students get vaccinated against meningitis and obtain a doctor’s note to avoid a chickenpox shot.

Officials with the state health department, an Evers Cabinet agency, announced last month that beginning this fall students entering seventh grade must get a meningitis shot and 12th graders get a booster shot.

The agency also announced that parents will need to provide evidence of infection from a health care provider to secure an exemption from a chickenpox shot.

Republicans say the requirements are too burdensome. The Legislature’s GOP-controlled rules committee voted 6-4 on Thursday to block the changes.