Closing the Gap

A Strategic Roadmap for Horry County Public Health

The Current Landscape

Horry County stands at a critical juncture. Our school immunization rate sits at 92.8%, falling short of the 95% threshold required for community immunity. Religious exemptions rates are growing and now sit at 4.3% and 2.9% of student records are listed as "Missing or Incomplete." However, with 26 VFC providers serving the county, we have a strong infrastructure to close these gaps.

0% Immunization Rate
Target: 95%
0% Religious Exemptions
Religious Exemptions
0 VFC Providers
Serving entire county

Strategic Recommendations

1. Addressing Hesitancy

With more than 4% of students claiming religious exemptions, the primary barrier is not access, but acceptance.

Education
Launch community forums with trusted local leaders to address specific concerns driving exemptions.
Transparency
Clarify the difference between philosophical objections and genuine religious exemptions.
2. Optimizing Supply Chain

With 25 VFC providers, the county has a solid infrastructure. The challenge now is ensuring these resources are effectively distributed and accessible to all populations.

Reform & Reimburse
Push state DPH to lighten VFC rules that might make mobile access easier.
3. Empowering Schools

Schools are the frontline. Administrators shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel; they need standardized tools.

Support
Share and encourage adoption of best practices with school administrators.
Standardize
Standardize non-compliance protocols to handle missing records consistently.
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