Chatham-Kent Public Health has started the process of notifying parents and guardians of any students with incomplete immunization records.
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This year, 1,686 first notices were issued, the health unit stated in a release Thursday.
“In order to attend school in Ontario, students must comply with the Immunization of School Pupils Act, 1990 (ISPA), which requires students to be vaccinated against or obtain a valid exemption for the following diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease, and varicella,” officials said.
“It is crucial for parents to realize that immunization records are not automatically reported by health care providers to CK Public Health. Thus, parents may receive a first notice letter even if their child has received all required vaccinations.”
To ensure compliance with the ISPA and avoid any potential suspension, the health unit asks parents to take the following steps:
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- Review your child’s immunization records to ensure they are complete.
- Contact your health-care provider for missing vaccinations or reach out to CK Public Health’s school health team for clinical options.
Submit updated records to CK Public Health:
The notice letter marks the initial stage of the ISPA process. Should records remain outdated, a suspension order will be issued at the end of January, the health unit stated. Non-compliance with the suspension order will lead to the student’s suspension from school beginning on March 4.
“CK Public Health is committed to keeping students in the classroom and is ready to collaborate with parents to ensure their child’s vaccines are completed and accurately reported,” officials added.
For more information, visit CKPublicHealth.com/vaccinations
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