The public health unit is urging students in the region to update their immunization records soon – or face a 20-day suspension from school.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) sent notices in January to about 11,000 students with incomplete immunization records.
Of those, 5,000 high school and elementary students had not updated their records by March 8 and will face suspension unless they do so soon.
Of the 5,000 students facing suspension, more than 1,300 are from Wellington County, with 480 from Centre Wellington, 227 from Erin, 88 from Guelph-Eramosa, 120 from Mapleton, 215 from Minto, 34 from Puslinch and 181 from Wellington North.
“Parents can anticipate that high school students will be suspended on March 22 and elementary students the first week of April if their immunization records have not been updated with public health,” said Rita Sethi, WDGPH director of community health and wellness.
“We are working closely with schools to make sure students are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases so they can attend classes.”
Public health officials say students who do not update their records by the deadlines will be suspended by their respective schools for up to 20 days.
“It is a requirement of the Immunization of School Pupils Act that students who attend school in Ontario must have up-to-date vaccinations or a legal exemption on file with public health,” stated a March 8 WDGPH press release.
Officials are encouraging parents and students to make an appointment with a physician as soon as possible to receive the required vaccines.
The Immunization of School Pupils Act requires students in Ontario to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and pertussis (whooping cough). Students born after Jan. 1, 2010 also need to be vaccinated for varicella (chicken pox).
Immunization records can be updated by visiting www.wdgpublichealth.ca.
Starting this year, WDGPH is annually assessing immunization records to meet the requirements of the Ontario legislation.
