Peterborough Public Health plans to enforce the School Immunization Act requirements from Wednesday, with students aged between four and 17 at risk of being suspended if they do not have the required vaccinations.
Students require vaccinations for certain diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough (whooping cough), varicella (chicken pox), and meningococci.
“For the health of students and to help manage outbreaks, it is essential that students are up to date with their immunizations and that they are reported to Peterborough Public Health,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Thomas Piggott.
Immunization of students lagged during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the health unit has resumed immunization opportunities that resumed last year after being suspended due to the pandemic.
“From January we are resuming the enforcement of routine immunizations to ensure all students comply with ISPA and those who do not comply may be at risk of suspension from school,” Piggott said.
“This will begin with educating parents and guardians of students who are in 3rd grade and not up to date on their immunizations.”
Under the law, parents can still choose to request a statement of conscience or religious belief or a statement of medical exemption to exclude their child from vaccination.
For the latter, a form must be signed by a physician or registered nurse stating that the immunization is either harmful to the individual’s health or unnecessary because of past infection or laboratory evidence of immunity.
“Immunizations protect children from highly infectious viruses and bacteria that can lead to severe illness,” Pigott said in an email. “Ensuring that all students are immunized and records are reported to public health will protect children in the classroom and prevent or manage potential disease outbreaks.”
Parents with a valid Ontario Health Card can submit immunization records to the health unit’s website or have their health care provider fax the immunization records to the health unit.
Children who are not up to date should make an appointment with a health care provider to receive the vaccine, the health unit advises, or at the health unit’s immunization clinic in the Jackson Square building on King Street in Peterborough (call 705 – 743-1000 ext. 331 to book an appointment).
Catch-up shots are also available through school clinics held throughout the school year.
“Parents and guardians can learn more about routine immunizations and how to update their child’s immunization records by going to the Peterborough Public Health website and searching for immunization clinics,” Pigott said.
“If you don’t have a healthcare provider, we also have a public health routine immunization clinic in Peterborough that will be happy to see you.”
Students are not required by law to have a vaccine against COVID-19, the provincial government decided in October 2021.
aschummer@peterboroughdaily.com
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