Most of the school children starting classes in Missouri have gotten their required immunizations.  But many have not. Most of the children got their first immunizations before they were three years old. Some have had booster shots before the opening of their schools.

State Health Department figures say better than eight in ten children get immunizations for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus immunizations early on.  More than nine out of ten have their anti-polio shots as well as those for measles and mumps.  The same for hepatitis B and chickenpox.

The state school immunization law allows people with religious objections or with health conditions to be exempt.

Health Department spokesman Ryan Hobart says there are some shots that people might want to get even if they’re not required.  College students, he notes, might want to get anti-meningitis shots, especially if they will be living in dormitories.  A new state law effective next July will require students living in dormitories at state institutions of higher education to have those shots.

The Health Department web page lists the immunizations that are required and when they should be administered: health.mo.gov.