Protecting Our Students

Strategic Health Roadmap for Clay County, NC

The Health Landscape

Clay County is witnessing a concerning multi-year shift in student safety. Since 2020, our immunization rate has dropped from 92.8% to 87.6%, while religious exemptions have surged from 3.6% to 8.6%. This trend is exacerbated by a severe local access gap: there are 0 pediatricians in the county, leaving only one family practice and one pharmacy to serve the entire pediatric population. We must act decisively to support these limited access points and reverse these trends.

0% ▼ Kindergarteners Up-to-Date
Was 92.8% in 2020
0% ▲ Religious Exemptions
Was 3.6% in 2020
0 Pediatricians
Total Local Access
1 Family Practice
VFC Provider Site
1 Local Pharmacy
Community Resource

Strategic Recommendations

1. Supporting the Access Point

With 0 pediatricians, the one VFC provider makes that location's accessibility paramount for the entire county's compliance.

Access
Implement evening "Catch-Up" clinics at the VFC site twice a month to accommodate working parents.
2. Respectful Community Dialogue

A surge to 8.6% exemptions indicates a need for trust. In a small community, peer-to-peer factual dialogue is the most effective tool.

Dialogue
Partner with our local pharmacy and community leaders to host "Safety Town Halls" that answer parent questions without judgment.
3. Join Boost Blue Ridge

Reversing declining vaccination rates in rural counties requires shared wisdom and regional cooperation.

Collaboration
Connect with allies across Western NC via info@saphl.org to identify best practices for counties with limited provider networks.
4. Strategic Advocacy

Policy stability is necessary to incentivize rural providers to remain in the VFC program and support school requirements.

Policy
Engage state lawmakers to provide administrative grants for rural pharmacies and practices to manage vaccine storage and reporting.
Turn data into action—connect with your lawmakers and help shape policies that protect your community.
Contact State Elected Officials Contact School Board Officials