SWPH Advising Families to Update Student Vaccination Records

Friday, 12 August 2022 10:59

By Marcie Culbert

SWPH sent out thousands of notices in the spring, advising students to update their vaccination records. The health unit will revisit the suspension process under the Immunization of School Pupils Act in 2023.

SWPH - Health units across the province are preparing for the upcoming school season.

Lots of Ontario families fell behind on their school vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic because it was hard to access healthcare providers, family doctors, and nurse practitioners.

Windsor-Essex County Health Unit recently sent out 7,858 suspension orders to students with incomplete immunization records, giving them until September 12th to update them.

Southwestern Public Health has decided to take a different approach to address this issue. Program Manager and Chief Nursing Officer Jaime Fletcher says they actually did a student vaccination status review earlier this year.

"We did a comprehensive record review of elementary students and secondary students this spring. Those who were outstanding for a record or vaccination received notice of that status in the mail."

Thousands of letters were sent out, instructing students to book an appointment with their family doctor and update their vaccination records as soon as possible. Fletcher says most of the students are probably up to date on their vaccinations but haven't sent the paperwork to Southwestern Public Health.

"Families are often surprised that we don't automatically get those vaccination records from healthcare providers. Families can reach out on our website or drop in with a vaccination record and we'll be happy to get those records updated in advance to any suspension processes."

She says the health unit is giving students lots of time to update their records and will revisit the suspension process under the Immunization of School Pupils Act in 2023.

Fletcher tells us about some of the vaccinations they're looking for.

"These would be vaccines that we would all be familiar with that we received throughout childhood. They might be measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal vaccines, things that protect us from vaccine-preventable diseases. Our team reviews records to ensure that the right amount of doses have been given at the right time so the individuals can be protected."

She says the COVID-19 vaccine is not a mandatory vaccine in order to attend public or private schools. You can find more information online here.