Columbia/Boone County Health and Human Services hosts immunization event
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
With back-to-school prep in full swing, parents are invited to stop by the Columbia/Boone County Health and Human Services building on Saturday to pick up some peace of mind with the department's immunization event.
The World Health Organization recommends vaccination rates to be at least 95% for the best herd immunity, but the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported that school immunizations have been falling statewide.
From 2023 to 2024, DHSS reported statewide school immunizations for whooping cough, measles and chickenpox did not clear 91%. Vaccination rates for Hepatitis B were at 93.6% and Polio was at 91.2%.
Just last month, Cedar and Taney County in Southwest Missouri saw a measles outbreak, marking seven confirmed cases of measles in the state.
DHSS reported that most Mid-Missouri counties, except for Chariton, Howard, Maries and Saline have vaccination rates under the recommended percentage. Cole County has a kindergarten vaccination rate of around 94% for measles.
"There are vaccines that are required for school and students going into specifically kindergarten, eighth grade and twelfth grade might have some that they are required to get for school," Tracy Teacutter the Community Health manager for Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services said. "Vaccinations are important in the school setting because kids are close together in those areas, and we want to prevent any kind of illness that we can."
The new school year comes after Boone County ended school flu shot clinics after losing over $800,000 in federal funding in March.
We encourage parents to either call and get an appointment here with us," Teacutter said. "A lot of pharmacies in town also offer flu vaccinations, so there are a lot of options for people to get their flu vaccines this year."
The vaccination event runs from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and is appointment-only. A second event immunization is scheduled for Aug. 16. Cutter also said Saturday that appointment slots are still available for next week. Columbia/Boone County Health and Human Services also provides vaccine appointments year-round.
