vaccines

Religious exemptions, in which a parent or guardian declines to vaccinate their child with some or all required immunizations because of sincerely held religious beliefs, have more than doubled statewide in the past five years.

COVID case numbers are slowly climbing but trending below past years, when cases surged as kids returned to their usual school activities. Still, health experts warn that doesn’t mean Kansas City is in the clear.

Despite a new presidential order, health officials urge parents to stick with longstanding guidance about routine shots.

On Monday, Aug. 10, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to cut the number of routine immunizations for American children. Only states can require vaccinations for children to enter school or day care. But many health experts pushed back, saying the order would not make children's lives safer and further erodes vaccine trust for parents.

In an executive order this week, President Donald Trump recommended separating the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination, though separate vaccinations don't exist.

Drugmakers are working on a potential new shot to prevent the tick-borne illness. How might it fare in the era of vaccine skepticism?

A wide-ranging healthcare bill made it to Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe's desk Thursday, the second-to-last day of this year's legislative session.

Doctors at Missouri and Kansas birthing hospitals have noticed an uptick in families turning down an inexpensive vitamin K shot, driven by unfounded fears of vaccines. But babies who don't get the shot are significantly more likely to die or suffer severe brain damage.

RSV season in the U.S. is expected to stick around longer than usual this spring. That's prompting most states to continue to offer the vaccine to eligible babies and toddlers through the end of this month.

Last month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised and reduced the childhood immunization schedule, paring down the recommended vaccines. That change won’t impact access to vaccinations, but Kansas City health officials believe it will heighten the burden on parents and providers.

Approximately 80% of active flu cases are an unexpected strain of Influenza A virus that health officials are calling a super flu. The Kansas City area has seen a dramatic spike in cases in recent weeks.

A medida que la temporada de gripe empieza a aparecer en el centro del país, los nuevos y diferentes mensajes sobre las vacunas procedentes de Washington están provocando dudas sobre la vacunación. Y las autoridades sanitarias de Kansas City están observando una tendencia preocupante en el número de personas que contraen la tos ferina.