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Missouri Law Requirement for Vaccinations in Public Schools

Immunization is the administration of vaccines to protect people against the contraction of certain diseases. In the interest of public health, children are required to be immunized against common, life-threatening diseases before being allowed to enter public schools. Children often begin being immunized at birth. In the state of Missouri, children are required to have specific vaccines before entering or continuing school.

  1. Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine

    • This vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough), three potentially fatal diseases caused by bacteria. Before entering kindergarten in Missouri, children should have at least four doses of the DTaP vaccine, which would protect them throughout childhood. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the vaccine should be administered at least five times, with the last dose being administered before the age of seven.

    Tatanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis (Tdap)

    • In Missouri, children who have had at least four doses of the DTaP vaccine are required to receive two booster doses of the Tdap vaccine to ensure that they are still immune to the diseases. One dose should be administered in the eighth grade. The last dose should be administered 10 years after the last DTaP vaccine, which is usually between the ages of 15 and 16.

    Inactivated Poliovaccine (IPV) Vaccine

    • To start kindergarten and to continue school in Missouri, children need at least three doses of the IPV vaccine. According to the CDC, this vaccine protects children from contracting polio, a disease that causes paralysis, throughout childhood Polio causes paralysis and is a potentially deadly disease. It is recommended by the CDC that children receive three doses of the IPV vaccine before the age of 18 months and one booster dose between the ages of four and six.

    Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

    • The MMR vaccine is another combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles), three potentially fatal viruses. The CDC recommends that children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine. One dose should be administered between the ages of 12 and 15 months. The second dose should be administered between the ages of four and six, and in Missouri children must receive their second dose before starting kindergarten.

    Hepatitis B Vaccine

    • Hepatitis B is a liver disease that can occur in short-term or long-term instances. The hepatitis B vaccine is administered over the course of three doses. The CDC recommends that children have their first dose of the vaccine at birth and the remaining two doses before the age of 18 months. To start or continue school in Missouri, children must have all three doses of the vaccine.

    Varicella (Chicken Pox) Vaccine

    • The varicella vaccine is a fairly new vaccine that protects against the chicken pox virus. To start kindergarten in Missouri, children must have two doses of the varicella vaccine. The CDC recommends that the first does of the vaccine be administered between the ages of 12 and 15 months. The second dose should be administered at least three months after the first dose. In Missouri, children in grades 1-5 are only required to have one dose of the vaccine, and children in grades 6-12 are not required to have any.

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