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Wythe County health coordinator warns of falling immunization rates and rising chronic student health needs
Summary
At the Feb. 13 Wythe County School Board meeting, school health coordinator Gretchen Robinson reported declining vaccination compliance, growing chronic-health needs among students, and an increase in clinic visits and emergency care the district must support.
Gretchen Robinson, the Wythe County school health coordinator, told the Wythe County School Board on Feb. 13 that declining immunization rates and growing chronic health needs are increasing demands on school nurses and health services.
Robinson said the district logged more than 39,189 clinic visits during the 2023–24 school year and described falling vaccination compliance nationally and in Virginia. "School nursing is a specialized practice of nursing that protects and promotes school health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success," she told the board.
The presentation placed several specific figures on the district workload: 25 students with diabetes (12 using insulin pumps and 20 using continuous glucose monitors), about 281 students with asthma, 89 students with EpiPens, 44 students with documented seizure disorders (19 of whom have seizure medication on file), and roughly 3,810 hearing, vision and concussion screenings…
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