Wisconsin Communities Back Bill To End Vaccine Waivers

Some Wisconsin counties are nudging lawmakers to consider a bill that would eliminate a popular waiver for vaccinations needed to attend school.

The Marathon County board of health is the latest local entity to approve a resolution supporting state legislation that would end the personal conviction waiver for immunizations required at schools, child care centers and nurseries. The series of shots includes vaccinations for mumps, measles, rubella, diphtheria, whooping cough, poliomyelitis and tetanus.

“I think what’s driving this is we are seeing lower immunization rates, not only here in our county but across the state and the nation. And its putting our communities at risk for diseases,” said Marathon County health officer Joan Theurer.

In 2011, Marathon County had an immunization rate of 80 percent for infants and toddlers. In 2017, Theurer said, that dropped to 77 percent. In addition to the personal conviction waiver, Wisconsin also allows parents to opt out of shots for their children because of medical or religious reasons.

According to the World Health Organization, to reach herd immunity for a disease like measles, 93 to 95 percent of the population needs to have been vaccinated.

So far in 2019, the U.S. has had 1,261 cases of measles, the highest on record since 1992. Wisconsin has not had any measles cases so far this year.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 15 states allow exemptions for immunizations because of personal, moral or other beliefs.

A bill eliminating the personal conviction waiver was introduced by Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh in May. It has not had a public hearing.

Many health organizations support the bill. However, the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin does not.

And there’s been considerable pushback from a group called Wisconsin United for Freedom. One of the group’s founders, Tara Czachor, said she opposes eliminating the personal conviction vaccine waiver.

“For us, the issue is not so much about vaccines but rather about personal and parental choice,” said Czachor.

Wisconsin counties that have passed resolutions supporting the bill eliminating the waiver include Calumet, Green, Oneida, Price, Rock, Wood, Juneau and Marathon, according to the Wisconsin Public Health Association.