School Entry Challenge

A Strategic Roadmap for Camden County Public Health

The Current Landscape

Camden County presents a distinct public health challenge. While early childhood interventions show moderate success with 85.3% of toddlers receiving MMR, this protection is not sustained through school entry. The county faces a critical drop in compliance, with only 74.7% of Kindergarteners fully up-to-date. Additionally, a moderate religious exemption rate of 4.2% suggests a need for continued community engagement.

0% Kindergarten Rate Target: 95% (Critical Gap)
0% Religious Exemptions Monitor Closely
0% Toddler MMR Rate Moderate (19-35 Mos)
0% Toddler DTaP Rate Needs Improvement
0% Childcare Certificates Current Coverage

Strategic Recommendations

1. Closing the School Entry Gap

With toddler rates significantly higher than kindergarten rates, children are "falling off" the radar between ages 3 and 5.

Policy
Implement stricter audit procedures during Kindergarten registration to ensure records are complete.
Outreach
Partner with Pre-K programs to verify status before the transition to elementary school.
2. Boosting DTaP Coverage

Toddler DTaP rates (79.2%) lag behind MMR (85.3%), suggesting missed multi-dose follow-ups.

Provider Education
Encourage providers to bundle vaccinations and recall patients for booster doses.
3. Addressing Exemptions

A 4.2% exemption rate is not critical yet but warrants attention to prevent further increase.

Education
Provide schools with resources to educate parents on the specific benefits of vaccines vs. perceived risks.
4. Driving Policy Change

Sustainable improvement requires a supportive policy environment that prioritizes student health.

Advocacy
Provide policy analysis on vaccine requirements and encourage advocacy.
Contact State Elected Officials Contact School Board Officials