School-Age Vulnerability

A Strategic Roadmap for Pickens County Public Health

The Current Landscape

Pickens County has a strong foundation in early childhood health, with excellent toddler vaccination rates—92.5% for MMR and 81.7% for DTaP. However, this protection erodes significantly by school entry. The Kindergarten Immunization Rate has dropped to 87.46%, well below the 95% safety target. This decline is driven primarily by a high rate of Religious Exemptions (10.8%), suggesting that our challenge is not access to care, but vaccine hesitancy.

Pickens County Data Map
0% Kindergarten Rate
Target: 95% (Missed)
0% Religious Exemptions
High Barrier to Immunity
0% Toddler MMR Rate
Strong Early Protection
0% Toddler DTaP Rate
Above Average Access
0% Childcare Certificates
Pre-School Documentation

Strategic Recommendations

1. Addressing Hesitancy

With 10.8% exemptions, logistical fixes aren't enough. We must address the root causes of parental opting-out.

Education
Launch trusted-messenger campaigns featuring local pediatricians to discuss safety concerns directly.
Outreach
Host town halls or Q&A sessions in partnership with schools to separate fact from misinformation.
2. Sustaining Early Success

Our toddler rates are a strength (92.5% MMR). We must ensure these families stay in the system as they age.

Retention
Implement "stay on track" reminders for parents of toddlers as they approach school age (4-5 years).
3. Closing the Gap

The gap between toddler success and kindergarten risk suggests a specific drop-off point that can be targeted.

Policy
Work with school registrars to ensure provisional enrollments are followed up on immediately.
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