April 20 is School Exclusion Day, after the Multnomah County Health Department delayed the Exclusion Day for several weeks this year in response to COVID-19’s effects on the healthcare system this winter.
Under state law, children in attendance at preschools, child care facilities and private and public schools are required to have up-to-date immunizations or have an exemption. Without immunizations or an exemption, children cannot remain enrolled.
The Oregon Health Authority issued a temporary rule change Jan. 12, 2022, that allowed local health departments to request a delay of school and childcare immunization reporting and exclusion for the 2021-22 school year.
Multnomah County Public Health Director Jessica Guernsey sent a memo to schools soon after announcing that the County’s exclusion deadline would shift from February to April.
Had Multnomah County not delayed Exclusion Day, roughly 5,780 school exclusion order warnings would have been sent out to families. Delaying the Exclusion Day two months resulted in approximately 5,100 exclusion orders being sent out, a 12% reduction.
Helping families and children with up-to-date immunizations before Exclusion Day
The Multnomah County Health Department provides immunizations to school-age youth at nine school-based Student Health Centers. This year, the Health Department is co-hosting two off-site school Exclusion Day clinics and one off-site clinic on Exclusion Day:
- Friday, April 15, 2022, at McDaniel High School, 3:45 - 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, April 16, 2022, at David Douglas High School (South Campus), 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at West Gresham Elementary School, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
These immunization clinics are available for youth ages 5-19. The clinics are free for families, including families whose insurance does not cover immunization. The COVID-19 vaccine is also available for students 5 and older with an exclusion order.
Immunization resources after Exclusion Day
The Health Department is offering additional childhood immunizations at four additional locations. These clinics are at no-cost for school-age youth. Community members can call 503-988-4724 for more information.
- Wednesdays at Gateway WIC (131 N.E. 102nd Ave., Portland)
- Fridays at IRCO Mid-County (10301 N.E. Glisan St., Portland)
- Saturdays at Northeast WIC Clinic (5329 N.E. MLK Jr. Blvd., Portland)
- Saturdays at Latino Network - Rockwood (454 S.E. 165th Ave., Portland)