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Students must update immunizations or face suspension

September 14, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Secondary School students in the region could face suspension from school if they don’t update their immunization record on file with the Health Unit by Sept. 26.

Students are required to comply with the Immunization of School Pupils Act.

In Ontario, vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (for those born in 2010 and after) and meningococcal disease are required under the Act unless there is a valid exemption. Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are strongly recommended.

“We know that many secondary school students were unable to receive their routine and required immunizations during the pandemic,” said Dr. Colin Lee, associate medical officer of health at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. “That’s why the health unit has spent the last year working with families to update their student’s vaccinations and has offered catch-up vaccination clinics to give students the opportunity to get immunized if they are behind.”

The Health Unit has mailed over 4,500 suspension orders to secondary school students in Simcoe Muskoka whose immunization record on file with the health unit is not up to date. This is the third notice that most of these students have received from the Health Unit.

The suspension order notifies students and parents that immunization records must be updated with the Health Unit by Sept. 26, 2023, or they will be suspended from school for up to 20 days. Once the missing immunization information is provided to the Health Unit, the student is removed from the suspension list and can return to school.

If students receive their routine and required immunization through their healthcare provider, they need to report this information to the Health Unit. This can easily be done online at smdhu.org, or by calling the health unit’s Health Connection Line.

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