vaccines

This is the first school year in which all ages will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, but so far uptake has been lower for younger age groups.

A coalition of religious groups, conservative think tanks, and Republican attorneys general — including in Missouri — have chipped away at local and state authority, altering how the nation can respond during health crises.

COVID cases have increased in Kansas City by nearly 40% in the last two weeks, a surge attributed to the highly contagious variant BA.5.

The new BA.5 variant is making its way throughout the country — and you aren't necessarily immune, even if you recently recovered from COVID. A health expert talks us through what Kansas Citians should do to stay safe.

The FDA and CDC recently approved COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of six months to five years old. Vaccines are available through your pediatrician, some local pharmacies and hospitals.

Only 66% of adults in Missouri are fully vaccinated, the 10th lowest rate in the country. But a new analysis found that more than half of the 14,000 deaths attributed to COVID in the state since January 2021 may have been prevented if all adults had their vaccines.

Under the bill, facilities can still limit things like visitor movements and the number of visitors per patient, but cannot require patients be vaccinated against any disease to receive treatment or visitors. Experts warn it could cause a conflict between state and federal requirements.

The bill would legalize the prescription of off-label COVID medications like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, and mandate child care facilities and K-12 public schools to accept — without inquiry or scrutiny — the religious objection of parents or guardians to vaccination of their children.

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are trending downward across Kansas City after the omicron variant caused a spike in cases, hospitalizations and deaths in January. These metrics are encouraging but doctors remain cautious as case numbers are still high.

Gov. Mike Parson appointed department General Counsel Richard Moore as acting director of the state health department Tuesday night after Don Kauerauf resigned from the position.

Director Donald Kauerauf proclaimed his opposition to mandates as senators questioned him on everything from vaccines to abortion.

Parents of children too young for vaccines are exhausted. As omicron surges, they keep trying to protect their kids. But some feel isolated and even forgotten by those who just want to move on.