Immunization Requirements

There have been recent announcements regarding updates to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Childhood Immunization Recommendations, which may have caused some confusion. To clarify:

👉 Missouri school immunization requirements have NOT changed.

👉 Missouri school immunization requirements are established by Missouri regulations, and those regulations remain unchanged at this time.

👉 The CDC/ACIP provides recommendations, but they do not set or require school immunization mandates.

For school-age children, schools should continue to follow Missouri immunization requirements, found at https://health.mo.gov/living/wellness/immunizations/schoolrequirements.php.

For preschool children, the requirements can be found at https://health.mo.gov/living/wellness/immunizations/daycarerequirements.php.

Immunization Requirements: Preschool, Day Care, Kindergarten, 8th Grade, & 12th Grade

All 8th-grade students are required to have a Tdap and Meningococcal vaccine prior to starting their 8th-grade year.

All 12th-grade students are required to have their 2nd Meningococcal vaccine before starting their senior year.

Written documentation of these vaccines per MO requirements should be provided to the school nurse prior to the first day of school.

2026-2027 Missouri School Immunization Requirements

Requisitos de Vacunación para las Escuelas de Missouri 2026-2027 (SPANISH)

Нажмите здесь, чтобы ознакомиться с требованиями Миссури по иммунизации на 2026-2027 гг. (Russian)

2026 Missouri Child Care and Preschool Immunization Requirements

Requisitos de Vacunacion para Preescolar y Cuidado de Ninos de Missouri 2026 (Spanish)

Щелкните здесь, чтобы ознакомиться с требованиями к дошкольной иммунизации штата Миссури на 2026 гг. (Russian)

Where can my child go to receive their immunizations?

School-aged children may obtain immunizations as follows:

Appointments can be made with your pediatrician.
Local pharmacies, such as Alps, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart Pharmacy offer vaccination appointments.
- Most pharmacies keep Tdap and MCV4 in stock.
- Other required immunizations may be in stock subject to availability.
The Christian County Health Department (301 E Brick St, Ozark) offers all required immunizations; call 417-581-7285 to make an appointment.
- CCHD offers immunizations at a discounted price for uninsured individuals.
- CCHD will file insurance claims with your child's Medicaid or personal health insurance.

Why are these immunizations recommended?

Tetanus: Tetanus causes painful muscle stiffness and lockjaw and can be fatal. Parents used to warn kids about tetanus every time we scratched, scraped, poked, or sliced ourselves on something metal.

Diphtheria: Most of us only know diphtheria as an obscure disease from long ago, thanks to the diphtheria vaccine babies get. While preventable, diphtheria does still exist. It can cause a thick covering in the back of the nose or throat that makes it hard to breathe or swallow. Diphtheria can also lead to heart failure, paralysis, and even death.

Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough”, is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable respiratory disease that can be fatal. Symptoms include: running nose, sneezing, mild cough, low- grade fever, explosive bursts of coughing develops with a high pitch whoop with vomiting.

MCV -Meningococcal vaccines help protect against the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease. The two most severe and common illnesses caused by these bacteria include infections of the fluid and lining around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream infections (bacteremia or septicemia).

For more information about Child Vaccines, visit CDC.gov

Exemption Information

Medical Exemptions - Claiming a medical exemption represents a physician’s determination that the child has a medical concern that would make receiving the vaccination contraindicated. A medical exemption can be obtained from your child’s physician. The medical exemption must be signed by a physician and filed with the school nurse.

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Religious Exemptions - Claiming a religious exemption represents a parent or guardian’s belief that the family’s religious preference does not support immunizing against vaccine-preventable diseases. A religious exemption can be filed for selected vaccines or for all vaccines. The exemption can be obtained by making an appointment with your child’s school nurse.

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Immunizations in Progress - Unfortunately, some children fall behind in getting their age-specific immunizations required for child care and school attendance. According to Missouri regulations, children who have not received immunizations required for child care and school attendance cannot attend until their immunizations are up-to-date. However, a child is allowed to attend if the required immunization series has begun and an appointment for the next dose is scheduled. An in-progress exemption can be obtained from your child’s physician or your child’s school nurse. The in progress card must be signed by a physician, public health nurse or designee and filed with the school nurse.

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