Update before it is too late

By Lyndi-Colleen Morgan

More than 3,000 local high school students could be facing suspensions if their vaccination records are not updated.

On Feb. 1 students across Windsor-Essex County received final notices informing them of the need to update their vaccination records, otherwise they would be faced with a 20-day suspension.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit sent out 3,589 letters notifying students in Grades 11 and 12 about the need to update their immunization records and vaccinations before Feb. 27. Students who have not done so by the deadline will be notified of their suspension from school on Feb. 28.

According to the Immunization of Schools Pupil Act students must be vaccinated to protect the “health of children and the community” and to stop the spread of preventable diseases through immunization. Students are required to have immunizations for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and varicella.

“This is new to our community. Other health units have been doing it for years and this is the first year we have done this with the grade 11s and 12s,” said Judy Allen, manager of the Health Schools Department at the WECHU. “Most students at this age will have had their childhood immunizations but we have to have record of all of them.”

The first round of letters was sent out to 8,218 students in December 2016. Allen said these vaccines help prevent highly contagious diseases. She said it is important for those who can be vaccinated to do so. This creates what is called herd immunity–protecting those who are very young or the elderly who were born before some of the vaccinations were available.

“I think that most people are under the impression that doctors give that information to us, so they will get the notice from us and they will say ‘I know it is up to date so that is all I need to do,’” said Allen. “But they are missing the step where they have to provide that information to us.”

Scott Scantlebury, public relations coordinator for the Greater Windsor-Essex County School Board said they support the position taken by the WECHU.

“We partner with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit on many projects and one of our biggest priorities obviously is to be responsible for them [students] while they are in our care,” said Scantlebury. “It is their responsibility and their obligation under the education act to issue these suspension letters and to suspend students if their immunizations aren’t up to date.”

The ISPA also gives health units in Ontario and school boards the legal power to suspend students for 20 days when documents are not presented to the health units with an option to re-suspend if the information has still not been provided.

“It is not in anyone’s best interest, especially the student, to be suspended if it can be helped or if it can be rectified,” said Scantlebury. “We certainly don’t want to see students suspended.”

Basma Preston, a parent of two students in high school received the first letters in December and took her children to have their vaccinations updated over the winter break. She said it can be hard to remember to update the vaccination records.

“When they are babies you have to take them to the doctors all the time and they remind you,” said Preston. “But after 12 [years of age] everything is done it’s just updates.”

Preston also said it can be hard for busy parents and sometimes it is just not convenient.

An app is available to those living in Canada called CANImmunize “with the ability to manage” a family’s vaccinations records. This app helps to manage records, notifies clients about upcoming vaccinations and provide access to information in seconds.

“The app might work, since everything is on the internet now,” said Preston. “It’s a good idea to remind the parents, instead of sending them this letter.”

Records can be faxed, phoned, electronically sent or delivered in person to the WECHU but only until Feb. 27th. Information about the updates will then be sent to the student’s school.

Following Feb. 27th forms can only be delivered or sent by a physician.

The WECHU will be holding clinics for those who still need to update their vaccines, which are available by appointment. For more information visit immune.wechu.org.