Closing the Gap

A Strategic Roadmap for Grundy County Public Health

The Current Landscape

Grundy County faces a multifaceted challenge. With an immunization rate of 78.7%, we are notably below the 95% threshold required for community immunity, leaving zero kindergartens properly shielded against potential outbreaks. A massive barrier is data completeness, with 17% of records missing or incomplete, alongside a Religious Exemption rate of 4.3%. Compounding this is a significant access hurdle, as the county only contains 2 VFC providers.

Measles Risk
Measles Risk Vulnerability. Data for mapping from collaboration between Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai.
0% Immunization Rate
Target: 95%
0% Missing Records
Critical Administrative Barrier
0% Religious Exemption
Religious Exemption
0 VFC Providers
Access is a Top Concern

Strategic Recommendations

1. Overhauling Data Collection

With an alarming 17% of records missing or incomplete, our data does not accurately reflect reality. We must prioritize administrative rigorousness alongside physical vaccination efforts.

Process
Audit school enrollment systems to identify exactly where and why 17% of health records are being lost.
Support
Deploy temporary administrative assistance to school nurses specifically for chasing missing documentation.
2. Expanding Access Points

Residents report that "Access" is their top concern regarding healthcare. With only 2 VFC providers in the entire county, geographical barriers are severely limiting vaccination uptake.

Partnerships
Partner with mobile health clinics to bring vaccination resources directly to underserved neighborhoods.
Visibility
Maximize public awareness of the 2 existing VFC providers through community bulletins and local outreach.
3. Addressing Vaccine Confidence

To move the needle on the "behind schedule" population, we need local leaders to deliver culturally appropriate vaccine education.

Messaging
Train 50+ DeKalb-based ambassadors to counter hesitancy using SAPHL's Narrative Playbook.
4. Driving Policy Chance

Sustainable improvement requires a supportive policy environment that supports completion of multi-dose series.

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