Closing the Gap

The Current Landscape

Dade County is at a critical turning point for community health. While a solid 92.57% of Kindergartners are immunized, a deeper look reveals hidden vulnerabilities that threaten our protective shield. Vaccine hesitancy is leaving a visible footprint, with religious exemptions holding steady at a concerning 5.41%. Even more alarming is the sharp, sudden decline in early childhood protection: toddler MMR rates have slipped to 79.7% (a 4.3-point drop), while completion of the crucial 7-vaccine series has plummeted by a staggering 11.6 points down to just 55.6%. We are also seeing dangerous gaps in toddler DTaP (77.2%) and adolescent MMR (74.8%) coverage. What is driving this slide? A severe, systemic barrier to access. With only one practicing pediatrician serving the entire county, the hurdle isn't always hesitancy—it's logistics. To reverse these trends, our strategy zeroed in on advocating for policies that fund mobile clinics and bolster vital rural healthcare providers. By bringing frictionless, routine care directly to families, we can close these gaps and rebuild Dade County's defenses.