Joplin Schools

Measles Update 2025

5 Things You Need to Know About Measle

9 out of 10 unvaccinated people who are exposed will contract measles
1 in 5 children who get measles will be hospitalized, and 1 in 20 will develop pneumonia. 1-3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die.
2 doses of the MMR vaccine provide 97% lifetime protection against measles.
The 2025 Missouri MMR vaccination rate among kindergartners is 90.5%. Jasper County’s 2025 MMR vaccination rate among kindergartners is 91.51%. Joplin Schools 2025 MMR vaccination rate among kindergartners is 92.5%.
Herd immunity is achieved at a 95% vaccination rate, which means our current vaccine rate is too low to protect our kids from a measles outbreak.

The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is our highest priority. We hope that by sharing this information, we may be able to protect our students and staff from possible outbreaks, as well as ensure uninterrupted educational opportunities for our students. Please contact your school nurse with any questions or concerns, or for more information about school immunization policies and exemptions.

We have been informed by the Joplin Health Department that measles cases and outbreaks are emerging in several states, including Missouri, as vaccination rates drop. While there are currently NO measles cases and NO exposures in our district, we want to share the following information in order to be prepared for any local outbreaks. Due to the highly contagious nature of the virus that causes measles, if is possible that staff and students who are either unvaccinated or cannot prove immunity will be excluded from school for 21 days after their last exposure.

Proof of Immunity Includes:

Written documentation of age-appropriate measles vaccination (one or two doses);
Receipt of 1+ doses of measles-containing vaccine administered on or after the first birthday for preschool-age children and adults not at high risk, and two doses of measles-containing vaccine for school-age children and adults at high risk for exposure transmission (i.e. healthcare personnel, international travelers, and students at post-high school educational institutions);
Laboratory evidence of immunity (blood test) or laboratory confirmation of measles disease; or
Adults born in the United States prior to 1957 (adults in this group are more likely to have had measles as a child and are generally, but not always, considered immune).

Guidelines for School Exclusion:

Staff (and students) who have been exposed will be contacted by the school nurse or administrative staff with specific instructions following health department guidelines.
Unvaccinated staff/students, or staff/students without proof of immunity, will be excluded from school for 21 days following the last exposure. Staff will use sick leave for the duration of their exclusion from school.
Unvaccinated staff/students, or staff/students without proof of immunity, can be vaccinated within 72-hours of exposure; otherwise, they will be excluded from school for the designated timeframe as mentioned above. Please be advised that this 72-hour time period is often significantly shortened by the time we are made aware of the exposure.

How can I find proof of immunity?

Locate personal vaccine records. In the event that you do not have access to records, you may be able to find proof of immunity by contacting your doctor’s office, city health department, or local pharmacy.
Seek out and recieve a Titer test for the presence of blood antibodies.
Seek out and recieve 1+ doses of the MMR vaccine. (Joplin Schools staff currently enrolled in a district health policy will have access to this option at this year’s Health Fair on Aug. 1, 2025.)

For more information about measles symptoms, transmission, complications, prevention, and immunization, please visit the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. For local assistance, please contact the Joplin Public Health Department.