Tuesday, June 06, 2017
Grey Bruce Health Unit
Grey Bruce Immunization Coverage Rates
A report released today by Public Health Ontario, shows Grey Bruce students have high vaccine coverage rates. High immunization coverage is essential to avoid outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases like measles or mumps.
In Ontario, infant and early childhood vaccines are generally administered by family physicians and nurse practitioners. Adolescent vaccines like Hepatitis B, Meningococcal Vaccine and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are largely delivered through school-based programs.
In Grey Bruce, immunization coverage assessment is conducted annually for all school pupils. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), the local Medical Officer of Health maintains a record of immunization for each pupil attending school in their jurisdiction. Students may face suspension if immunizations against select designated diseases are not received by a certain date or if documentation of medical exemption or religious/conscientious objection is not provided. Of note, the proportion of students with exemptions in the province due to religious or conscientious objection is quite low- at less than 2%.
Un-immunized and under-immunized students can be excluded from school if there is an outbreak or an immediate risk of an outbreak for ISPA-designated diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, meningococcal disease and varicella.
Public health credits local health care providers for such excellent coverage rates. “Local health care providers are diligent about vaccines” says Dr. Christine Kennedy, Medical Officer of Health for Grey Bruce Health Unit. “They really understand the protections that vaccines offer to children and to the community at large. By continuing to strive for high vaccine coverage rates we can make sure that everyone is offered the best protection from vaccine preventable diseases”.
For more information:
Sarah Ellis
Manager Vaccine Preventable Diseases Program
Grey Bruce Health Unit
1-800-263-3456 or 519-376-9420 ext.1443
s.ellis@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca
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