Among Missouri kindergarteners, childhood immunization rates fall and religious exemptions rise

A new state report shows a drop in the number of Missouri kindergarteners who received the required immunizations for schools, which include DTAP, Polio, MMR, Hep B and Varicella.
New data from the Department of Health and Senior Services shows that fewer Missouri kindergarteners received their required immunizations for the 2022-2023 school year.

The state requires all kindergarten students enrolled in and attending school in Missouri to receive the DTAP, Polio, MMR, Hep B and Varicella vaccines unless they have a religious or medical exemption.

In the 2022-2023 school year, kindergarten immunization rates for all five vaccines, which are required, dropped from the previous year, according to a report from DHSS.