Marina
Missouri’s kindergarten vaccination rates have slipped below the safe level that health experts recommend, raising concerns among doctors, educators, and parents.
With highly contagious diseases like measles, chickenpox, and whooping cough still circulating, the state’s decline in coverage poses a serious risk to children, schools, and communities.
The Numbers That Matter
For highly contagious diseases such as measles, the safe community threshold is 95% coverage. This level ensures herd immunity, making it difficult for viruses to spread. Missouri’s latest vaccination data shows a worrying drop across several key vaccines:
| Vaccine | Coverage (%) | Safe Level Target (%) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) | 90.0 | 95 | Below |
| DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) | 90.0 | 95 | Below |
| Polio (IPV) | 90.7 | 95 | Below |
| Varicella (Chickenpox) | 89.4 | 95 | Below |
| Hepatitis B | 92.7 | 95 | Below |
These figures show that Missouri is falling short across the board, with no vaccine currently meeting the 95% goal.
Why This Is a Problem
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. If one infected child attends school, most unvaccinated children in close contact will likely catch it. By falling below 95%, schools lose the protective shield of herd immunity, making outbreaks more likely.
Beyond measles, other illnesses like whooping cough can spread quickly in classrooms, causing serious illness in young children. Outbreaks can also force schools to exclude unvaccinated students, leading to learning disruptions and increased stress for families.
The Rise of Exemptions
One of the biggest reasons for the decline in vaccination rates is the increase in exemptions. Missouri allows both medical and religious exemptions, and both categories have been climbing.
Around 5% of Missouri kindergarteners are exempt from one or more vaccines, higher than the national average.
This rise directly lowers overall coverage, making it harder to reach the herd immunity threshold.
Efforts to Improve Coverage
Health officials and schools in Missouri are taking steps to reverse the trend. These include:
- Extended clinic hours to give parents more opportunities to vaccinate their children.
- Community vaccination drives at schools, local centers, and churches.
- Digital vaccination records that make it easier for families and schools to track student immunization status.
- Awareness campaigns to educate parents about the risks of skipping routine vaccinations.
While these efforts are helping, experts say more parents need to act quickly to close the gap.
Parent and School Concerns
Parents of vaccinated children worry that declining rates put their children at greater risk, especially in large group settings like classrooms and buses. Teachers also express concern, since outbreaks could disrupt the school year, leading to closures, quarantines, and missed learning time.
On the other hand, families choosing exemptions often cite personal or religious reasons, even as public health experts warn that rising exemption rates can endanger entire communities.
Missouri’s kindergarten vaccination rates dropping below safe levels should serve as a serious warning. With MMR at 90% and other vaccines also under target, the risk of outbreaks in schools is higher than it has been in years.
By working together—parents, schools, and health officials—Missouri can push coverage back to the 95% safe zone.
Restoring that protection will not only keep children healthier but also ensure schools remain open, stable, and focused on learning rather than battling preventable diseases.