The child's parent or legal guardian can schedule an appointment by calling the Oakland Connects Helpline (formally Nurse on Call) at 1-800-848-5533. Appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis for Oakland County residents and/or for students attending Oakland County schools or early learning centers. Exemption appointments are offered throughout the entire year at both Oakland County Health Division Pontiac and Southfield locations. The exemption session is for the parent/legal guardian. Children are welcome, but they are not required to attend.
The session typically lasts 30 minutes but can vary depending on the number of children in your family. Once the exemption education session and all non-medical exemption form requirements are complete, the non-medical exemption will be issued.
What You Need for Your Appointment
Since 1978, Michigan law has required children enrolled in early learning centers or schools to be up to date with required immunizations on or before the first day of school or early learning. Early learning centers are required to report all children enrolled in their centers and schools are required to report all Kindergarten, 7th grade, and newly enrolled students to the district.
The following circumstances allow a required vaccine to be exempted or delayed:
Yes. All children who are enrolled in public or private school or early learning centers must be up to date with vaccines or must submit an exemption.
No. Exemptions must be signed in the calendar year in which a child's immunization status is reported for school and early learning purposes:
Non-medical exemption appointments are available year-round. Avoid the back-to-school rush in the late summer and early fall - call Oakland Connects Helpline (formally Nurse on Call) at 1-800-848-5533 for an appointment early in the calendar year.
Even after you have signed a non-medical exemption, you are still encouraged to vaccinate your child to protect against vaccine preventable diseases. Parents and legal guardians can choose to vaccinate children at one of our clinics or at their medical care provider. The non-medical exemption will remain valid for any vaccines not received that are checked on the form.
Yes, please bring any vaccination records from outside of Michigan with you to the appointment. The Public Health Nurse will assist by ensuring all vaccine data is entered into MCIR.
In addition to parent/guardian photo identification, please bring any of the following physical documentation:
Yes, a non-medical exemption is still required for school or early learning if your child has not received all the vaccines or the number of vaccine doses required for their age or grade.
No, if your physician has indicated in the MCIR record that the child is now "immune" from chickenpox, a non-medical exemption will NOT be needed for that particular disease. Without proper documentation, a non-medical exemption for the chickenpox vaccine (Varicella) will be required.
Depends on how the non-medical exemption is issued.
The certified non-medical immunization exemption form is now electronic and entered into the MCIR system by the local health department that issued it. Personal information is protected, confidential, and can only be seen by authorized entities. Parents and legal guardians may choose to request a paper exemption instead of an electronic exemption.
Electronic Non-Medical Exemptions
Paper Non-Medical Exemptions
No, local health departments provide non-medical exemptions only through 12th grade.