A school-free summer is coming to an end for many young Michiganders...and health officials are encouraging parents to include vaccinations in their back-to-school shopping lists.
Michigan law requires parents to produce vaccine documentation before childcare, kindergarten, seventh grade, or a new school transfer.
Robin Walicki is the Immunization Coordinator for District Health Department Number Ten, which covers ten counties in northwest Michigan. She said parents can provide waivers to decline immunizations. The process has become more complicated in the wake of the anti-vaccination movement.
“A long time ago, school secretaries could sign a waiver with the parents at the school. But at this point, now, if the parent needs a philosophical or religious waiver, they do need to come into the health department to talk to a nurse about the benefits of vaccines and go over some of the risks that they’re concerned about.”
Walicki said health departments can provide vaccinations at a number of locations around Michigan. Those without insurance can be billed on a sliding fee scale.
A directory of Michigan health department locations can be found at: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-73970_5461_74040---,00.html