Closing the Gap

A Strategic Roadmap for Hamilton County Public Health

The Current Landscape

Hamilton County faces a challenge distinct from other regions. While our immunization rate is 88.4%, the primary barrier preventing us from reaching the 95% threshold is not vaccine refusal, but data completeness. With 8.1% of records missing and a relatively low Religious Exemption rate of 3.1%, our focus must be on administrative precision. Fortunately, with 29 VFC providers, the physical infrastructure to close this gap is in place.

0% Immunization Rate
Target: 95%
0% Missing Records
Primary Barrier
0 VFC Providers
Strong Access Network

Strategic Recommendations

1. Closing the Administrative Gap

With a high rate of missing or incomplete records (8.1%), the immediate priority is administrative rigorousness rather than persuasion.

Process
Explore school reporting systems issues to identify where records are being lost or delayed.
Support
Provide additional support to school nurses during enrollment periods.
2. Optimizing Access Points

With 29 VFC providers, coverage is strong. The goal is ensuring these access points are visible and utilized effectively.

Visibility
Map VFC provider locations against school districts to identify any hyper-local deserts.
3. Sustaining Community Trust

The low religious exemption rate (3.1%) indicates high community trust. We must protect this baseline while addressing logistical hurdles.

Communication
Frame vaccination reminders as "school readiness" rather than "mandates" to maintain buy-in.
Vigilance
Monitor exemption trends closely to detect any sudden shifts in sentiment.
4. Strengthening Policy

Ensuring that school entry requirements are clear and consistently enforced is key to closing the remaining gap.

Standardization
Standardize the "grace period" policies across all districts to prevent enrollment delays.
Contact State Elected Officials Contact School Board Officials