Suspension Orders Issued to Students With Incomplete Immunization Records
by Bob Montgomery
Last week Huron Perth Public Health issued 1557 suspension orders to elementary and secondary students whose immunization records are incomplete.
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act students may be suspended from school starting on May 23rd if their records are not updated by that time. Initially there were more than 5100 incomplete records. About seventy percent of those records have been updated since January when HPPH began sending notifications to parents or legal guardians.
Manager of Immunizations Karen Bergin-Payette says they thank parents for their cooperation thus far and they continue to work with families to resolve the remaining school suspensions. “We urge families who receive a suspension order to act quickly to ensure immunization records are updated before May 23rd.
Parents who receive a suspension order are asked to do one of the following:
If your child is up to date on their immunizations, go to www.hpph.ca/icon to report the required information online, or call HPPH at 1-888-221-2133 ext. 3558.
If your child is not up to date on their immunizations, contact your healthcare provider. If you do not have a healthcare provider, contact HPPH to book an appointment at a catch-up immunization clinic. Appointments can be booked online at www.hpph.ca/catchup or by calling HPPH at 1-888-221-2133 ext. 3558.
If your child has a valid exemption due to medical reasons, conscience or religious beliefs or you wish to obtain an exemption, visit www.hpph.ca/exemption and follow the required steps. The suspension order also provides instructions on how to obtain a valid exemption.
A suspension order will be cancelled or rescinded if parents update their child’s record with HPPH before the suspension date.
The Immunization of School Pupils Act requires elementary and secondary school students to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school or to have a valid exemption. The purpose of the Act is to protect the health of children against these preventable diseases. It is the responsibility of parents or legal guardians to provide proof of their child’s immunizations or to provide a valid exemption to public health.
For more information call Huron Perth Public Health at 1-888-221-2133 or visit www.hpph.ca.
