Last year, Livingston County’s Health Department introduced a new hybrid immunization waiver process that has earned recognition as a Model Practice by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). The initiative is also under review by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for possible statewide implementation.
“Through their initiative, our health department has improved both the effectiveness and the efficiency of the vaccination waiver process,” said Wes Nakagiri, a member of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners. “(The health department is) deserving of this national recognition.”
The hybrid process was developed to improve efficiency for parents opting out of vaccines required for their children to attend childcare or school. The State of Michigan requires these parents to request a waiver from their public health department and complete educational sessions. Previous in-person appointments were costly, time-consuming, and led to frustration for families and staff.
To create a waiver process that saves time, boosts staff and client satisfaction, enhances vaccination rates, and reduces costs, the Health Department utilized an online survey tool. This innovative approach combines online education with brief in-person appointments which allow parents to learn about vaccinations at their own pace, and choose to vaccinate, sign a waiver, or have a discussion with a nurse.
Implementation of the hybrid process led to immediate success:
• Appointment duration: Hybrid appointments now last 5 minutes, compared to the 30-45 minutes previously required.
• Staff time savings: Staff time was reduced to 83 hours annually instead of the 500 hours that in-person appointments would have taken.
• Cost savings: The reduction in staff time resulted in an estimated saving of $44,619 per year.
• Vaccination uptake: Between 2018 and 2024, only four parents opted to vaccinate their children due to waiver education. Within five months of launching the hybrid process, 15 parents chose to vaccinate their children.
To learn more about the Health Department’s hybrid immunization waiver process, click here..
