SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) -As the U.S. hits a new high in measles cases, health leaders say the sooner you vaccinate your child, the better.
Doctors say that the purpose of these vaccines is to protect your child from illness. It not only protects your child, but it can also help protect other children.
Having higher vaccination rates can strengthen the community’s herd immunity, which is something University of Missouri Health Care warns has been on the decline since 2020.
“For diseases like measles, where you do need a substantial herd immunity, having low community immunity for these diseases allows them to spread,” said Dr. Amruta Padhye, MD, with MU Children’s Hospital. “With people traveling in the state and not specifically being confined to the county that you live in, knowing that there are counties in the state where there are lower vaccination rates, then you are at risk.”
Herd immunity requires 95 percent of the population to be vaccinated against measles. Right now, Missouri’s average vaccination rate is 90 percent, which means it is at risk for potential outbreaks.
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.
Copyright 2026 KY3. All rights reserved.