Multnomah County hosts pop-up vaccine clinics ahead of Exclusion Day

Jashayla Pettigrew
·2 min read

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Per state law, Oregon families have just five days to ensure their children are vaccinated or have an exemption before they’re unenrolled from schools or childcare facilities.

School Exclusion Day falls on Wednesday, Feb. 21. According to Multnomah County, 108,000 children and students in the area are expected to meet the school immunization requirements by the deadline.

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Officials have already notified parents of the looming date. On Feb. 7, the county health department sent exclusion orders to about 5,600 families.

The county also mailed about 5,600 notices in February 2023, but that number has increased by about 12% in recent years. Officials sent almost 5,000 notices in 2020, prior to the pandemic.

To help families meet the deadline, Multnomah County is partnering with the Multnomah Education Service District and David Douglas School District to host a free vaccine clinic this Saturday, Feb. 17.

The event will be held at 1500 SE 130th Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Youth between the ages of 5 and 19 are eligible for the clinic, which doesn’t require ID or insurance.

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Multnomah County advises parents to call 503-988-8939 to secure an appointment, but walk-ins are also welcome.

The final pop-up clinic is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 21, on Exclusion Day. It will be held at CareOregon’s Boys & Girls Club at Rockwood on 454 SE 165th Ave. Only walk-ins are accepted for this event.

The clinic will include vaccines against influenza, measles, hepatitis and more. The Oregon Health Authority has a full list of the immunizations required for the 2023-24 school year.

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“Vaccine-preventable diseases can be highly contagious, with several cases of measles recently taking place in the Pacific Northwest and across the U.S.,” Stacy de Assis Matthews, school law coordinator in OHA’s Public Health Division, said in a statement. “Immunizations remain the best way to stop that spread, keeping kids and school communities healthy and safe.”

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