Parents urged to update their child’s student immunization record

Public health officials hope more parents will update their child’s student immunization records in the coming weeks.

“We have had an encouraging uptake so far after the first round of letters were sent out,” Eric Robertson, program manager, infectious disease at the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, said at a recent meeting. “It’s encouraging that parents are taking action as required.
“We have about nine more weeks until suspensions take effect and we are optimistic that the numbers will continue to decrease as parents contact us to update their child’s record.”

At the end of January and early February the health unit sent out 1,279 immunization notification letters. The letters tell parents that their child’s immunizations are incomplete and that their child faces suspension as of May 2023.

As of Feb. 23, there were 774 students on the suspension list, a decrease of about 39 per cent over a four-week period.

“We are actively contacting parents by phone and have scheduled a number of ‘catch-up’ clinics at our health unit locations to assist in helping students access the mandated vaccines,” Robertson said. “Some students will require vaccinations to bring them up to date while others may have previously received their required vaccinations but it hasn’t been reported to public health.”

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, parents or guardians have the responsibility to inform public health officials when immunizations are administered.

By law, students attending elementary or secondary schools must be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis (meningococcal disease), whooping cough, (pertussis) and chickenpox (varicella) for children born in 2010 or later.

Speaking at a meeting of the Haldimand-Norfolk Health and Social Services committee meeting on Feb. 27, Robertson said there has been an increase in the number of students who are overdue for vaccines or whose records are not up to date.

“The (COVID-19) pandemic slowed the access, administration and reporting of vaccines to the health unit,” Robertson said. “We recognize the impact the pandemic had on our vaccine preventable disease team and are working hard to get caught up as quick as possible.

“The team is working to effectuate a plan as efficiently as possible.”

Public health officials will be sending out follow-up letters in the form of a suspension order to parents at the end of March. Parents have until May 2 to notify the health unit that their child’s immunization record has been updated.

Students who remain overdue for a mandated vaccination, will be suspended as of May 3, 2023.

Any suspensions imposed will be rescinded when the student’s record is updated to show the required vaccines have been administered and the health unit’s vaccine preventable diseases team has been notified.

Parents can call the health unit’s vaccine preventable diseases team at 519-426-6170 ext. 3214. They can also send the information by fax to 519-426-9246 or by e-mail at [email protected].

As well, the information can be updated online at www.hnhu.org/immunization-reporting/ .

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