Some 390 Lambton County elementary schoolers faced suspension Tuesday because their immunization records aren’t up to date, Lambton Public Health says.
Some 390 Lambton County elementary schoolers faced suspension Tuesday because their immunization records aren’t up to date, Lambton Public Health says.
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By provincial law, the pupils must be suspended if their families don’t provide records of or receive a valid exemption from tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and varicella vaccinations, the agency said.
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Ace of Feb. 27, 640 local high schoolers were still at risk of suspension March 26 if their records weren’t updated, the agency said.
Families can contact Lambton Public Health’s vaccine call center at 226-254-8222 to report up-to-date immunization records or exceptions. Information is also available at lambtonpublichealth.ca/reporting-immunizations.
The health unit paused enforcement of immunization rules in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but enforcement resumed this school year.
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“It has been a collaborative effort with local school boards, health-care providers, and working diligently with parents and guardians to ensure up-to-date immunization records are reported,” Crystal Palleschi, the agency’s health protection supervisor, said in a release .
“Through this entire process we have kept our focus on the shared goal of keeping as many students in school as possible and ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment for all attending.”
Lambton Public Health began issuing suspension orders in February for a larger than normal number of pupils and students with out-of-date records.
This year, it issued 6,199 first notices and 3,497 initial suspension orders, compared with 2,614 first notices and 1,798 suspension orders in 2020.
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The agency has been working since to lower the number facing suspension.
“We are extremely encouraged to see the number of elementary school students without up-to-date immunization records under 400 as of this morning,” spokesperson Shaun Bisson said.
“This represents more than 700 elementary students who have updated their immunization records compared to this time last week, which is tremendous in helping achieve community immunity and creating a safe and healthy learning environment in our schools.”
The agency said it increased capacity at its call center, which has received more than 3,000 calls since January.
“We are anticipating a high volume of calls and appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to service clients as quickly as possible,” the agency said.
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The last suspensions locally came during 2019-20, when 98 schoolkids were barred from school pending immunization record updates.
Dr. Karalyn Dueck, Lambton’s medical officer of health, has said immunization records aren’t automatically reported by health-care providers to public health, so children may have required immunizations, but face suspension until their families provide updated information to the agency.
To update children’s immunizations, book an appointment with their health-care provider or a Lambton Public Health clinic and confirm the appointment with the vaccine call center, he said.
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