Thousands of students vaccinated after health unit warns of consequences for not having updated records
After reviewing immunization data, the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) found a large drop in coverage for some vaccines. This has prompted health officials to create an enforcement campaign in order to get thousands of students up-to-date with their mandatory vaccinations.
“Their records have to be up-to-date,” said Dr. Alex Summers, MLHU’s chief medical officer of health.
School vaccine requirements are in place to help prevent nine diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and hepatitis B.
“The reason we’re doing this is to make sure we protect our community from vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Summers. “We want to keep kids healthy and we want to keep them in school. I recognize it’s ironic using suspensions to keep kids in school but it actually works by having those deadlines in place.”
In early January, parents with children enrolled in local schools received a notice advising them to get the required vaccines, otherwise they would be facing suspension.
“This year we’ve divided all the kids whose records aren’t up to date into six different groups,” Summers explained on Wednesday. “We are working through those six different groups between January and May, so we did our first group in January and we are onto our second group now in February.”
Since suspension notices were sent out for Jan. 18, 3,000 to 4,000 students were immunized with the required vaccines, according to Summers.
“For me as a parent, my kids repeatedly had virus after virus,” said Carol Dyck. “We know that the schools are hot beds for germs and for me right now I think the last thing we need is an outbreak of measles or meningitis.”
There will be consequences for unvaccinated students by suspension, unless children are eligible for an exemption, the health unit added.
An exemption would include a medical exemption or a conscientious exemption. In order to qualify for those exemptions, paper work needs to be completed, Summers said.
“There’s always options available for people. The only option that isn’t available is to not participate in the process at all,” he said.
Dan Peters, superintendent of education for the London District Catholic School said the health unit has been coordinating with each school’s principal.
“We are hoping to avoid suspensions,” he said, and explained that this might have been the first time that students have been in this situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic delaying annual vaccinations.
“I think every year there are situations with families where their children aren't up-to-date with vaccinations because families have had so many others going on and I think the pandemic exasperated that,” Peters said.
The MLHU sent out another notice stating that the second round of school suspensions will begin two weeks from Wednesday on Feb. 15.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
WATCH LIVE Toronto police to release updated list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
Toronto police and law enforcement partners will be releasing the BOLO program’s updated list of the top 25 most wanted fugitives in Canada at a news conference on Tuesday morning.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Fire engulfs old Edmonton municipal airport hangar
A historical hangar at the former Edmonton municipal airport beside the NAIT main campus was on fire Monday night.
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a ploy to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.