KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Toddlers in Missouri are less likely than kids in 42 other states to have received all their recommended immunizations. The Centers for Disease Control says about a third of Missouri babies and toddlers are behind on vaccines. That puts them at higher risk for diseases such as rotavirus, whooping cough and measles.
Doctors say several factors appear to be stronger in Missouri than other places. Some parents purposely don’t get their children vaccinated or don’t get certain vaccines. Doctors say parents are influenced by unfounded information on the internet. For example, some parents still think the MMR vaccine causes autism. That’s been disproven time and time again.
Dr. Angela Myers of Children’s Mercy Hospital tells FOX 4 Medical Reporter Meryl Lin McKean that the lower immunization rate in Missouri also has to do with parents forgetting or just being tardy.