Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Huron County Health Unit
Health Unit Issuing Student Suspension Notices
About 300 to 400 students in Huron County could be suspended from school due to incomplete immunization records.
On May 8 the Huron County Health Unit will send suspension notices out to students who did not respond to the second notice.
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 26 for up to 20 school days.
Families who have received notices are asked to please call the Health Unit at 1-877-837-6143 ext 2025.
“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.
“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. Last year vaccines for meningitis and pertussis (whooping cough) were added to the list, as well as varicella (chickenpox) vaccine 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:
Media Contact:
Rita Marshall
Communications Coordinator
Huron County Health Unit
519-482-3416 or toll-free 1-877-837-6143 ext 2023
rmarshall@huroncounty.ca
|