Percent of MMR vaccinated population among each state. Missouri currently sits at 90.4%. | Map and data courtesy of the CDC

Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

As the fall semester approaches, school districts begin to assign supply lists and curriculums for courses along with additional requirements for students, including vaccines, upon enrollment. 

The MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine is a requirement for many students attending K-12 school districts and Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) is no exception. Measles — an airborne virus, dating back to around the 9th Century — has maintained an elimination status for over 20 years in the U.S. However, outbreaks of the disease that began in 2024 across the country  carried over into January 2025, leading to a total of 1,309 confirmed cases as of July 15 among 40 states — including Kansas and Missouri, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

Of the 1,309 confirmed cases, 29% were from children under five years old, 37% were from ages five to 19 and 34% were from those ages 20 and older. Two MMR vaccination doses exist: the first dose, which was introduced in 1971 as a combination of three different vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella, that were all developed in the ‘60s. In 1989, when a measles outbreak occurred between vaccinated students, various organizations including the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Practices (AAFP) recommended a second dose of the MMR vaccine. Following this implementation, in 2000, measles was declared eliminated across the U.S., according to the CDC. 

While the MMR vaccination is a requirement for many school districts, there are some states that allow exemptions, offering anywhere from medical (allergies) to religion, which are the two that are allowed in Missouri.

It is these exemptions, Kansas City University Assistant Dean of Student Success and Associate Professor of Microbiology Amber Schmidtke (Ph.D.) shared, that has led to an increase of disease outbreaks within the past year. 

From 2023 to 2024, less than 95% of kindergarteners received an MMR vaccine in Missouri, with 90.4% of the average population vaccinated. With vaccination numbers decreasing across the State, Schmidtke shared, this remains a concern for the upcoming school year, as the last spike in cases occurred throughout March and spring semester. 

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, children fell behind on vaccinations [because] parents were afraid to take their kids out in public; that has contributed to some of this,” Schmidtke, who has a background in infectious disease and public health, said.

Most infectious diseases, she shared, can spread like wildfire and currently, the number of vaccinated three-year-olds has dipped to one of the lowest rates in the country. 95%, Schmidtke said, is the minimum vaccination percentage required to achieve immunity and prevent outbreaks. 

This year, Missouri has had seven reported measles cases across the State, predominantly in the southwest region in Taney and Cedar Counties as well as one in New Madrid County in the southeast side. With 90 cases in 2025, among Kansas’s southwestern side of its state and Wichita, Kansas is currently ranked third in total number of cases across the U.S. 

And while most patients make a full recovery, Schmidtke shared that measles is not always a minor disease — resulting in three confirmed deaths in 2025 throughout the country.

“When the disease enters a public school, lots of students get exposed,” she said. Children under one-year-old, Schmidtke shared, are those most at risk.

Once an individual has received two MMR vaccine doses, in most situations, they receive lifelong immunity. Certain exceptional situations include immunocompromised adults or those with preexisting medical conditions, which make them more susceptible to viruses. 

Symptoms 

In infected patients, measles begins resembling a common cold. However, with an incubation period lasting six to 21 days, the disease occurs in two stages. The first indication includes a high fever, upwards of 104 degrees, followed by a rash. 

Traditionally, this will appear on the face at the hairline, moving down and out toward the extremities. While this can look similar to other rashes, a hallmark feature of Measles, Schmidtke shared, includes the rash disappearing in the same order it appeared in. For instance, if it started at the hairline, that would be the last part of the rash to disappear. 

The rash will traditionally last six to seven days. 

Schmidtke shared that, like many viral diseases, there is no treatment such as an antibiotic or antiviral for measles. While an affected individual can manage their symptoms, the most effective method in prevention, she said, is the MMR vaccine. 

As measles is airborne, the virus will stay aloft within the air for three hours after an infected person has passed through an area. 

Schmidtke shared she is currently working with area clinics and hospitals on how to best prepare for measles patients. This includes ensuring staff has received vaccinations and has proper education on measles protocol and virus management. 

For those looking to receive an MMR vaccination, Schmidtke shared that the public health department provides free vaccines. The Kansas City Health Department (2400 Troost Ave., Ste 1007) is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Kansas City Health Department has additionally expanded its immunization clinic hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays; both walk-ins and appointments are welcome. 

For additional information on recent measles cases and outbreaks visit: https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html.