Clinic Hours Extended for Back-to-School Vaccinations

The Oakland County Health Division will hold extended clinic hours to vaccinate children in their Pontiac and Southfield locations before school starts.

“I urge parents to get their kids vaccinated before the back-to-school rush,” Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said in a statement. “Vaccinating children with all the recommended vaccines is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children and the community.”

The Health Division’s extended clinic hours are:

North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 34 East, Pontiac

• Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015, 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug.19, 2015, 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield

• Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015, 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Vaccines protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, including measles and whooping cough. Unvaccinated children are at an increased risk and can spread diseases to others in classrooms and the community – including babies too young to be fully vaccinated and those with weakened immune systems.

“Vaccines have greatly reduced and even eliminated many diseases that severely disabled or killed people just a few generations ago,” said Kathy Forzley, Health Division manager/health officer.

Since 1978, Michigan law has required children to be up to date with required vaccinations on or before the first day of school/childcare. The state of Michigan rules have recently changed related to vaccination waivers. Parents or guardians wanting to waive vaccines for nonmedical reasons are required to receive education from their local health department. OCHD provides this education for Oakland County residents and/or those students attending Oakland County childcare facilities and/or schools at no cost. Appointments are required and can be scheduled at oakgov.com/health or 800-848-5533.

Normal clinic hours for Health Division offices in Pontiac and Southfield are Mondays from noon – 8 p.m. and Tuesdays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Cash, credit cards, insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare are accepted.

For more information or a list of vaccinations provided by OCHD, visit oakgov.com/health, call Nurse-on-Call at 800-848-5533, or find up-to-date public health information on Facebook and Twitter @publichealthOC

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Photo via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention