COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Parents may need to consider booking multiple doctors’ appointments to get children their recommended immunizations after CDC advisers voted to restrict the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine for younger children on Thursday.
Currently, parents have the option to give children around 12 months old the MMRV vaccine. The push against the shot comes after some studies found that the shot can, on very rare occasions, cause seizures in infants. To avoid complications, many parents already schedule two appointments to cover the immunizations.
The MMRV shot will still be accessible for second doses in kids between 4 and 6. There is no evidence that the vaccine has a connection to seizures in this age group.
The CDC vaccine advisers also voted Friday to make the COVID-19 vaccine available based on personal choice. Critics of the decision to restrict the MMRV vaccine argue that it takes away parents’ ability to choose.
They add that having multiple doctor visits adds the risk of parents being unable to complete multiple-part immunizations or doses slipping through the cracks that would have been covered with the MMRV shot.
The World Health Organization recommends vaccination rates to be at least 95% for the best herd immunity, but the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported that school immunizations have been falling statewide.
From 2024-2025, DHSS reported school immunizations for whooping cough, measles and chickenpox did not clear 91%. Vaccination rates for Hepatitis B were at 92.7% and Polio was at 90%.
The CDC advisory committee also discussed setting a delay on the Hepatitis B shot, but indefinitely delayed the vote.