Huron Perth Public Health is Reviewing Student Immunization Records

by Bob Montgomery

Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) has reviewed the immunization records of all students attending elementary or secondary school in Huron Perth. 

They found that more than 5,000 records, or 39%, are incomplete which means students are either missing immunizations required for school attendance or their immunizations have not been reported to public health. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act students with incomplete immunization records may be suspended from school.

Records are usually reviewed annually but the review and suspension process hasn't been completed since the former Huron County and Perth District Health Units merged in 2019. Public health nurse Jennifer Beaver says the COVID-19 pandemic also disrupted the student immunization review process. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and a focus on pandemic response limited the ability of health units and primary care providers to offer routine immunizations. She says many students missed getting their routine immunizations as a result.

HPPH has been holding catch-up clinics to help get students up to date and resumed in-school clinics in the fall of 2023. They've begun sending letters through the schools to parents and guardians of students with incomplete records. Parents who receive a letter, but who's child is up to date on their immunization should report that to HPPH online at www.hpph.ca/icon or by calling 1-888-221-2133 ext. 3558.

Parents whose child is not up to date on their immunization are asked to book an appointment with their primary care provider or HPPH. To book an appointment with HPPH they can call 1-888-221-2133 ext. 3558. HPPH will also be holding vaccination clinics in the local high schools for high school students to get caught up. Dates and locations of the high school clinics are listed in the immunization letter from HPPH. 

Parents are asked to respond to HPPH by March 4th to avoid a suspension notice. Suspension notices will be mailed out in late April to students who have not provided proof of up-to-date immunizations. School suspensions will begin on May 23, 2024.

The Immunizations Team expects a high volume of calls over the next month and requests patience from parents as they work to update everyone’s records as quickly as possible. 

Children who attend primary or secondary school in Ontario must be immunized against the following diseases or have a valid exemption:

• diphtheria

• tetanus

• polio

• measles

• mumps

• rubella

• meningitis (meningococcal disease)

• whooping cough (pertussis)

• chickenpox (varicella) – required for children born in 2010 or later

Children who do not get immunized are at increased risk of disease.

For more information parents can call Huron Perth Public Health at 1-888-221-2133 or visit www.hpph.ca/schoolvaccines