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Members of the Chatham-Kent board of health have followed another jurisdiction in calling on the province to add COVID-19 to the list of diseases children must be vaccinated against in order to attend school.
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The board backed a motion made by the Windsor-Essex County Board of Health recommending the provincial government change legislation to make COVID-19 a designated disease.
Other diseases under that classification include diphtheria, measles, mumps, poliomyelitis, rubella and tetanus. The Immunization of School Pupils Act requires students to be immunized for designated diseases unless exemption is sought through the act.
Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health said this is an “important issue” on which the province hasn’t acted.
“We require immunization against a number of different diseases for our school pupils,” Dr. David Colby said at the Dec. 15 meeting. “There is nothing that is more important at this point in time in order to be able to help keep kids in school as to get as many of them protected as possible against COVID-19.”
At the time of the meeting, seven schools in Chatham-Kent were experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19. As of Dec. 14, 26.1 per cent of residents aged five to 11 had a single dose of the vaccine, while 71.4 per cent of those aged 12 to 17 had received two doses, Colby shared at the meeting.
Under the act, a medical officer of health can require schools to suspend students who haven’t been vaccinated for a period of 20 school days. Parents who have completed an immunization education session may request exemption for their children based on conscience or religious belief.
Colby said it is “obvious” the act should be revised to include COVID-19 vaccine requirements.
“It seems to be an extremely effective and safe vaccine as it is in all populations,” he said.
Coun. Brock McGregor, a board member, put forward a motion to support the Windsor-Essex County board’s decision, which passed unanimously.
“I think this is something we should endorse and add our voice to the conversation supporting that change,” McGregor said.