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Around 800 students remain eligible for suspension if not vaccinated

September 24, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Around 800 Grade 11 and 12 students remain eligible for suspension if they don’t get their required vaccinations up to date.

In May, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit mailed reminder notices to more than 5,600 students letting them know they were missing required vaccinations.

Throughout the summer, nurses worked with families to arrange missing vaccinations and update immunization records.

During the week of Sept. 14, immunization nurses visited all area high schools to provide vaccinations and help students update their immunization records.

Under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), health units must maintain immunization records for students and enforce suspensions when required information is missing.

The Health Unit planned to start enforcing suspension orders on Sept. 22.

To help students get their records up to date, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is offering drop-in immunization clinics at its offices from Sept. 21 to 25 for Grade 11 and 12 students.

Clinics will be held at various centres in the region, including Barrie, Collingwood, Midland, and Orillia.

For New Tecumseth residents, the closest location is in Cookstown.

Immunization records are automatically updated for students who receive vaccines at a school or health unit clinic. Students who receive vaccines from a health-care provider must report them to the health unit through smdhu.org/ImmsOnline or by calling 705-721-7520, ext. 8827, or toll-free at 1-877-721-7520, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 

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