Take Your Best Shot

The West Virginia Adolescent Immunization Project: Take Your Best Shot was developed to address the problem of low vaccination rates among adolescents throughout West Virginia. In 2008 the project was implemented in seven pilot counties with the support of a FY 2008 legislative appropriation and matching funding support from foundations and businesses through the Center for Rural Health Development’s Healthy Futures Campaign. Lessons learned during the pilot project are being used to develop effective strategies for statewide implementation over a five year span. Click here for details on the program's Statewide in Five implementation plan.

Key Program Components

• Community-based lead agency structure 
• One-time grant funding to lead agencies
• Development of immunization-specific toolkits
• Quarterly training sessions
• Evaluation mechanisms

Immunizations
Take Your Best Shot targets West Virginia’s adolescents ages 11 to 21 years, and strives to increase the rate of immunizations for vaccines as recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Currently recommended vaccines for adolescents include:

• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella (chicken pox)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella
• Influenza
• Meningococcal
• Human Papillomavirus

Phase One Participating Counties                          

Phase Two Participating Counties