The Wisconsin legislature passed a new law that mandates that every child entering kindergarten this fall must be vaccinated against chickenpox. Effective June 1, this law covers the first stage of a state immunization regulation that will be fully in effect by the 2005-2006 school year. All preschoolers through 12th graders will be required to be vaccinated prior to registering for school; the only exceptions made will be based on health, religion, or personal conviction issues. Each year in the United States, chickenpox causes at least 100 deaths and the hospitalization of 12,000 patients.