UW-Madison requires students to disclose measles vaccination status

UW-Madison is asking students to report their vaccination status for measles and several other diseases after a campus measles case was found; the university says reporting is required but vaccination is not.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison announced a new policy asking students to disclose their vaccination status after a measles case was detected on campus last month. The university said the requirement covers measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tetanus‑Diphtheria‑Pertussis (Tdap), chickenpox, meningococcal and hepatitis B. Students are being asked to report their status but are not being required to receive vaccinations under the policy. The university said collecting these data helps public health officials understand immunity on campus and enables faster, more specific support for students at higher risk. Known details: - A measles case was identified on the UW–Madison campus last month, prompting the policy change. - Students must report vaccination status for MMR, Tdap, chickenpox, meningococcal and hepatitis B. - The policy requires disclosure of vaccination status but does not mandate receiving vaccines. - The university described the aims as improving understanding of campus immunity and supporting higher‑risk students more quickly. - Officials noted the policy comes amid a national rise in measles cases and reports of outbreaks in states including South Carolina, Arizona and Utah; U.S. case numbers were higher last year than in 2024, when the CDC recorded 269 cases. Summary: The university says the policy will give campus health officials better information about immunity and help target support for students at higher risk of communicable diseases. Undetermined at this time.