Huron County, ON – About 150 students in Huron County could be suspended from school soon due to incomplete immunization records. Students and their families should have received a notice in the mail from the Huron County Health Unit about possible suspension.
If families don’t provide the Health Unit with proof of immunization or a valid exemption for their child, the student may be suspended effective May 30 for up to 20 school days.
“Parents are busy and kids need to go to school, which is why we work with parents to update records and arrange immunizations,” says Christina Taylor, Public Health Manager. “One phone call is the key to resolving the issue.”
In some cases, students may be properly immunized but the Health Unit may not have the records. It is a parent or guardian’s responsibility to inform the Health Unit of any immunizations. Healthcare providers do not automatically share that information with the Health Unit.
If your family has received a suspension notice, please contact the Health Unit at 1.877.837.6143 ext. 2025.
“Immunizations are a key part of public health,” says Taylor. “Ensuring students are immunized keeps our schools and communities safe and healthy.”
The Health Unit annually reviews immunization records for students attending school. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) Ontario students are required to be vaccinated against several infectious diseases in order to attend school.
Ontario students must be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella. Meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough) and varicella (chickenpox) vaccine are added to the list for students born in 2010 or later.
To report an immunization or to ask questions about their notice, parents should contact the Huron County Health Unit:
- Call 519.482.3416 or 1.877.837.6143 ext. 2025
- E-mail immunize@huroncounty.ca
- Fax 519.482.9014
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