School Immunization Program
The primary goal of the School Immunization Program (SIP) is to lower the risk of vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) in the organized learning environments of the early childhood and school-age populations of Macomb County. The leading way to achieve this goal is through children receiving the required childhood and adolescent vaccines.
The SIP provides education, support and consultation to local families, programs and schools to achieve and maintain the childhood and adolescent immunization rates at 95% or higher.
The SIP works in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Michigan Childhood Improvement Registry (MCIR) in meeting or exceeding immunization requirements.
In Michigan, all children who enroll in and attend the following programs and schools are required by law to be vaccinated in accordance with the Michigan Public Health Code Act 368 of 1978 Part 92 Immunizations. The entities include:
- Licensed childcare centers
- Head Start programs
- Preschool programs
- Public, private, charter academies, special education, alternative education, adult education, homeschool partnerships and virtual schools enrolling kindergarten through 12th-grade students.
Also required by the Public Health Code, all early childhood programs licensed by the MDHHS and school-age programs registered by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), are required to report the immunization status of specific student populations. These populations include:
- Newly enrolled in a childcare center, Head Start or preschool program
- All kindergarten, including developmental kindergarten students
- All 7th-grade students
- All students who enroll as new-to-district entrants in grades 1-6 and 8-12 through 18 years of age
For programs and schools to complete their reporting, parents, legal guardians, foreign exchange students’ host families or 18-year-old students must present a written immunization record indicating the current vaccine status of the child to the program or school. A minimum of one dose of each required vaccine is needed for school or program entry. All required vaccines are needed for continued school or program attendance.
Parents/Guardians
Failure to meet vaccine or waiver requirements, as set by the Public Health Code, requires the school principal, administrator, or program director to EXCLUDE a child from the school or program attendance.
Call the School Immunization Program at (586)466-6840, for an appointment for nonmedical waiver education services, Mon-Fri, 8:30 -5:00, except holidays.
Nonmedical Immunization Waiver Form: For children who do not receive vaccines for religious or other objections to vaccines, a certified Nonmedical Immunization Waiver Form must be submitted to the child's school or program. The "waiver form" is certified by a Michigan Local Health Department following a parent/guardian's attendance at a waiver education session:
- Waiver session is by appointment only, and provided at the Macomb County Health Department located in Mount Clemens (43525 Elizabeth Road, Mount Clemens, MI 48043).
- For families that reside in or attend Macomb County schools or programs.
- For more specific information on the whole process, please see How to Obtain a Nonmedical Waiver.
- Documents to review prior to the Waiver Education Session:
Vaccine Information Statements
Medical Waiver: For children who cannot receive vaccines for a valid medical contraindication, a Medical Contraindication Form completed by the child's M.D. or D.O. must be given directly to the school or program office for submission to the Health Department. The Macomb County Health Department Medical Director reviews all medical waivers.
Kindergarten Entry Booklet
In 2014, the Kindergarten Entry Requirements Booklet was developed in collaboration with the Macomb Intermediate School District, Great Start Macomb, Great Start Collaborative, Head Start, and the Macomb County Health Department. It includes requirements, information, and resources for families preparing to enroll children in kindergarten and developmental kindergarten programs.
Michigan's Kindergarten Entry Requirements booklet is administered by and available on the Macomb Intermediate School District website.
Other Resources for Parents
School Requirements and Resources for Parents
Childcare/Preschool Requirements and Resources for Parents
State of Michigan FAQ on Immunization Waivers
Macomb County Health Department Immunization Clinic Hours
Schools and Childcare Centers
Macomb County has approximately 555 childcare and school sites, and collectively, the program and school staff must review the immunization records of approximately 45,000 children each year. The MCIR system is used by the school staff to complete and send their site’s immunization report to the SIP. All school districts/charter academies/private schools must have a completed, waived or provisional immunization record (compliance) for at least 90% of their students for the November IP-100 report, and 95% compliance for the February IP-100 report. All early childhood programs must have an immunization compliance record for at least 90% of their students for the October IP-101 report. Go to www.mcir.org > School & Childcare, for additional information and resources.
Contact Information Update Form: Please complete this form to update a facility's contact information to receive timely updates.
Macomb County Health Department (MCHD) Childcare Center Information Packet:
- MCHD List of Materials
- Childcare Quick Look at MCIR Reporting
- Childcare & Preschool Requirements and Resources for Parents
- How to Obtain a Nonmedical Immunization Waiver
- Statement of Varicella Disease
- Childcare Manual 2021
MCIR Information for Childcare Centers:
Full Childcare Packet 2021
Individual Items from Childcare Packet 2021: Updated 7-22-2021
- Childcare Cover Letter
- MCIR Information Sheet
- Influenza Information for Childcare
- Required Immunizations for Childcare
- Waiver Flyer & FAQ for Parents
- Waiver Flyer & FAQ for Parents – SPANISH
- Waiver Flyer & FAQ for Childcare and Schools
- Waiver Flyer & FAQ for Childcare and Schools – SPANISH
- Vaccine Terminology
- Childcare Aggregate Reporting Form
Macomb County Health Department Information for Schools:
- MCHD List of Materials
- School Requirements & Resources for Parents
- FERPA Consent Flowchart for Schools
- School Quick Look at MCIR Reporting
- How to Obtain a Nonmedical Immunization Waiver
- Statement of Varicella Disease
- School Manual 2021
MCIR Information for Schools:
Full School Packet 2021
Individual Items from School Packet 2021: Updated 8/23/2021
- School Cover Letter
- School and Childcare Immunization Information and Resources
- MCIR Information Sheet
- Vaccines for Adolescents Parent Flyer
- Influenza Information for Schools
- FAQ for FERPA
- Consent Form for Disclosure
- Consent Form for Disclosure – Spanish
- Required Immunizations for Schools
- Vision Screening Information
- Waiver Flyer & FAQ for Parents
- Waiver Flyer & FAQ for Parents – Spanish
- Waiver Flyer & FAQ for Childcare and Schools
- Waiver Flyer & FAQ for Childcare and Schools – Spanish
- Vaccine Terminology
- School Aggregate Reporting Form
Resources:
Reporting Immunization Program Status
Macomb County Schools and Childcare Compliance Rates for Immunization Status Reporting
Click on the following links to view countywide immunization compliance rate totals for school districts and childcares.
County Quarterly Immunization Report Card
Vaccines in the News
Study Linking Vaccine to Autism Declared a Fraud
Please visit the National Association of County and City Health Officials web site for more information on the media coverage of this important development.
Statewide Vaccine Shortages Affecting School and/or Child Care Program Immunization Requirements
Current Shortages:
Date
Vaccine
Ages
Grade
Affected Programs
For more information
None at this time; reviewed August 30, 2019
Resources:
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Immunization Waiver Information