Low Vaccination Rates in St. Louis Kindergartens

As of the 2023-2024 school year, only 75% of the 2,556 children enrolled in public kindergartens in St. Louis have received the MMR vaccine. The number is slightly lower for private kindergartens, with only 71.4% of the 488 students vaccinated.

These figures are significantly below Missouri’s MMR vaccination averages, which stand at 90.9% for public schools and 85.4% for private institutions. In fact, both public and private vaccination rates in St. Louis fall short of the 95% threshold needed for what’s termed “herd immunity,” which is necessary to prevent the easy spread of the virus in a community. Even the states with the lowest MMR vaccine rates—Idaho at 79.6%, Alaska at 84.3%, and Wisconsin at 84.8%—outperform the city’s vaccination statistics, as noted in a report from the Centers for Disease Control.

Children under five years old are at a heightened risk of severe complications, including death, if they contract the measles virus. Research from the CDC and the Mayo Clinic highlights that these children can face serious health issues like hospitalization, pneumonia, or even brain swelling.

Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, St. Louis City’s Director of Health, identifies healthcare access barriers as a significant factor contributing to these low vaccination rates.

“The low rates in St. Louis are influenced by the city’s diverse socio-demographic landscape. Many residents encounter challenges in accessing care, such as being uninsured or underinsured, lack of transportation, or financial difficulties in visiting a clinic,” Davis noted in an email. “The growing measles epidemic poses a real threat, and the childhood vaccination rates in St. Louis for the MMR vaccine are quite alarming.”