Health Officials Alarmed By New Childhood Vaccination Report In Wisconsin

Since the beginning of 2026, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has issued three separate press releases regarding measles exposures in Waukesha County, Dane County, and Milwaukee County.

Measles can be dangerous, with one out of every four people who get measles in the United States being hospitalized.

It is especially dangerous for infants and young children, with one or two out of every 1,000 children in the United States who get measles dying from the disease, even with the best care.

However, Wisconsin health officials stress that measles can be prevented. The best protection against the disease is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR or MMRV) vaccine, which is about 97% effective at preventing measles. Officials note that the vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all measles strains.

However, reports of new measles outbreaks in the United States indicate that childhood vaccination rates for preventable diseases are declining nationwide, and a new report proves that this is the case in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Childhood Vaccination Rates Continue To Decline

The Wisconsin DHS has released its annual vaccination rates among children, adolescents, and adults for 2025.

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The data show Wisconsin's childhood vaccination rates continued to decrease last year. Nearly 7 of every 10 children (66.9%) had the recommended vaccinations at age 24 months, but nearly 3 of every 10 did not. This is a decline of almost 2% from 2024.

"In public health, we use data like this as an alert system. Today, that alert system is sending a clear signal that the health and well-being of Wisconsin kids and communities are at risk," said Paula Tran, state health officer and Division of Public Health administrator.

Tran went on to stress that vaccination rates aren't just statistics; they represent real people, and even a small decline in rates increases the risk of preventable diseases spreading and outbreaks occurring.

Alongside the decline in childhood vaccination rates, the 2025 data also show very minor decreases in adolescent vaccines such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) and tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines.

At the same time, the vaccination rates to protect against meningococcal disease (meningitis) for adolescents increased, and rates across all adult vaccinations stayed steady.

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Health officials urge Wisconsinites to use the Wisconsin Immunization Registry to check their and their child's vaccine status and to talk to a trusted health care provider about recommended vaccines.

Families can access free or low-cost vaccines through programs like Vaccines for Children and Vaccines for Adults. Learn more about vaccines on the state's DHS Get the Facts About Vaccines webpage.