Frequently Asked Questions

How to Access Your Michigan Immunization Record (MICR/MCIR)

If you want to view or request your official Michigan immunization record, you can do so through the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), which is the state’s immunization information system.

For Adults (18+)

1. Go to the MCIR website: mcir.org

2. Sign in using your existing MiLogin for Business/Workers credentials.

   • If you don’t have MiLogin, you can create an account at MiLogin and then select MCIR from your dashboard mcir.org.

3. Upload a valid ID (U.S. Passport, Driver’s License, or State ID) to verify your identity Michigan Immunization Portal.

4. Once signed in, you can view your immunization history.

For Children/Dependents

• Ask your child’s pediatrician or family doctor for an Official State of Michigan copy.

• If you no longer live in Michigan, contact the Local Health Department (LHD) of the county where you previously lived.

• If you move to Michigan, the LHD can help create a new record mcir.org.

If You Don’t Have MiLogin or Can’t Access Online

• Request a paper copy using the Official State of Michigan Immunization Record Request Form.

• Send it with your ID to:
  [email protected]
  or fax to 517‑335‑9855 mcir.org.

Visit the CDC for the Immunization Schedule. 

Please contact our Environmental Health Division at 989-895-4006 or email directly at [email protected].

Immediately clean the wound, control bleeding, and seek medical attention for deep, puncture, or high-risk bites to prevent infection and rabies.

Immediate First Aid

1. Ensure safety: Move away from the animal to prevent further injury. If necessary, scare the animal off safely without putting yourself at risk 
2. Control bleeding: Apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or bandage if the wound is bleeding heavily.
3. Clean the wound: Wash the bite thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 5 minutes. Avoid scrubbing, which can damage tissue. Rinse out any debris, such as dirt, hair, or teeth fragments.
4. Apply antiseptic: Use an antibiotic ointment or antiseptic cream and cover the wound with a clean, sterile bandage.
5. Tetanus risk: If you haven’t had a tetanus booster in the last 5–10 years, a booster may be recommended within 48–72 hours of the bite occurring. 

Rabies Considerations

• Domestic pets: Confirm vaccination status if possible.
• Wild or stray animals: You may capture the animal if it's a bat, if any other animal, contact local animal control. Do not attempt to capture the animal yourself if it is acting strangely or is foaming at the mouth. 
• High-risk exposure: You may need a series of rabies vaccinations and possibly rabies immunoglobulin.

In Michigan, bats are the most common carriers of rabies, followed by skunks and foxes, with occasional cases in raccoons and domestic animals like dogs, cats and livestock.

Fewer than 10 people die from rabies each year in the United States, with most years seeing only 1–3 deaths.

 

Never throw loose needles directly into the household trash, and never place them in your recycling bin. Proper disposal prevents accidental needle sticks and injuries to family members, pets, and sanitation workers.

• Use an FDA-cleared container: You can purchase official sharps disposal containers at local pharmacies or online. 
• Use a heavy plastic household alternative: If an official container is unavailable, use a rigid, leak-proof plastic household bottle with a screw-on lid, such as a heavy-duty laundry detergent or bleach bottle. 
• Avoid unsafe alternatives: Never use glass jars, aluminum cans, thin plastic water bottles, or plastic milk jugs, as needles can easily puncture them. 
• Keep out of reach: Always store your container away from children and pets. 

• Fill to 75% capacity: Stop adding needles when the container is about three-quarters full to avoid overfilling and accidental punctures.
• Secure the lid: Screw the lid on tightly and wrap it securely with heavy-duty tape (like duct tape).
• Label clearly: Write "WARNING: SHARPS - DO NOT RECYCLE" in large, bold block letters on all sides of the container

3. Sealed and labeled household plastic alternative containers with used sharps can now be placed in your regular household trash. 

The best and safest way to handle unwanted or unused prescriptions is to take them to a dedicated prescription drug take-back kiosk. 

To find a kiosk, use this link. 

The Bay County Sheriff's Office located at 503 3rd St, Bay City, MI 48708 offers prescription drug take back. 
The Bay County Health Department offers prescription drug neutralizing kits for safe, at-home disposal of small quantities of medication. You can pick one up from our front desk clerk or find them in the blue BCPN box located on the north side of our building.

How to Prepare Your Meds for a Drop-Box disposal:

1. Leave medications in their original containers if possible.
2. Scratch out or black out all personal information on the prescription labels using a permanent marker to protect your identity.
3. Keep liquids tightly sealed in their original bottles. (Note: Check with individual kiosks, as some law enforcement drop boxes only accept pills and patches, not liquids or inhalers). 

Please call contact our Environmental Health Division for specific water supplying container at 989-895-4006 or email [email protected]. Water supplies are required to be tested using a Health Department provided container.

• Look it up online (Fastest): You can look up your property history using the Bay County FetchGIS septic mapping system. If your property has been logged, this interactive map provides information on your permit number, tank size, drain field type, and installation date. 
• Submit a Septic Inquiry Form: If your home is not on the digital map, you must request a manual record search from the Bay County Environmental Health Division. You will need to provide your township name, street name, and specific info requested. This can be brought in person, mailed, or faxed, and takes up to five working days to process for a small fee. 
• Request an On-Site Evaluation: If you are buying/selling a home or suspect system failure, you can pay a fee to have the health department conduct an On-Site Sewage Evaluation. They will physically locate the tank, evaluate its operation, and give you a formal written assessment. 

• By Phone (Applications): Call the Michigan Medicaid application line at 1-855-276-4627.
• By Phone (General Help): Call the MDHHS Medicaid Customer Help Helpline at 1-800-642-3195.
• Online: Apply or manage benefits through the MI Bridges Portal.
• In Person: Visit your local county MDHHS office, the MDHHS office in Bay County is located at 1399 W Center Rd, Essexville, MI 48732. The Bay County MDHHS office telephone number is (989) 895-2100.

To learn more about the Medicaid programs offered by the state of Michigan, please visit here. 

The state measures consumption by an "MI Serving," which equals 6 to 8 ounces of fish for an adult (about the size of your hand)

Certain fish species should never be consumed by anyone if caught in the Saginaw Bay or Saginaw River watershed.

• Carp
• White Bass

A "Limited" advisory means general adults should eat no more than 1 or 2 servings per year. However, anyone under 15, individuals with chronic health conditions (like diabetes or cancer), or women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to have children should avoid these fish entirely.

• Walleye
• Catfish
• Large & Smallmouth Bass
• Lake Trout & Brown Trout
  

Panfish and certain open-water species like Yellow Perch generally accumulate fewer toxins and are safer to eat in moderation.

Our Personal Health and Family Planning Clinic can provide you with testing information and schedule an appointment for you. You can reach them directly at 989-895-4015.

Our Personal Health and Family Planning Clinic can provide you with Plan B. You can reach out to them at 989-895-4015.

• It was found in a room with a sleeping person, an unattended child, or someone unable to confirm contact.
• Anyone was bitten, scratched, or if physical contact cannot be completely ruled out.

• Stay calm to avoid startling or provoking the bat.
• Isolate the bat by closing interior doors and keeping people and pets out of the room.
• Open exterior windows or doors in that room so the bat can fly out on its own. Turning off the lights can help guide it.
• Do NOT touch the bat, even if it appears dead or completely still. Bats carry rabies, and their bites can be entirely painless or invisible.

1. Wear thick gloves to protect your hands.
2. Place a box or container over the bat once it lands on a flat surface.
3. Slide a piece of cardboard smoothly underneath the container to trap it inside.
4. SECURE THE LID TIGHTLY.

• Wash the wound thoroughly for 15 minutes with soap and water. Thoroughly scrub the site using plenty of soap and running water to help reduce the risk of infection.
• Bring the captured bat to Bay County Animal Services & Adoption Center for rabies testing located at 800 Livingston St, Bay City, MI 48708. Results will be available in a few days—it is safe to delay starting Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) while waiting for lab results.
• If the bat is untestable or escaped, seek emergency room medical care immediately. Go to the nearest emergency department for medical evaluation. Rabies deaths are nearly 100% preventable with prompt Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) treatment.
• Report the incident right away to the Bay County Health Department Communicable Disease Division (989-895-4003) for additional guidance.

• Inspect for entry points such as gaps, attic openings, or chimney issues to prevent future occurrences.
• Call a professional pest control company for recurring issues.