There could be a penalty for your young student if vaccines aren’t updated.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) is sending a final reminder to parents/legal guardians to ensure their child is up to date on their immunizations and to update their child’s vaccination record with the Health Unit to avoid suspension from school this February.
The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires all students in Ontario to be vaccinated, or have a valid exemption, against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and varicella. The HKPR District Health Unit is required to maintain and review vaccine records and exemptions for every student attending school within the City of Kawartha Lakes, the County of Haliburton, and Northumberland County.
The Health Unit wants to remind parents to make sure their child’s vaccinations are up to date. If not, they could be suspended from school in February for up to 20 days. Ontario law requires all students to be vaccinated against certain diseases, and the Health Unit needs records of these vaccinations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Unit sent notices to parents of students who were behind on vaccinations. Over 2,700 records were updated since fall 2022 when the enforcement program resumed.
Dr. Natalie Bocking, the Medical Officer of Health, thanked parents for updating their child’s immunization record. Now, the Health Unit is sending suspension notices to parents of Grade 3 and Grade 9 to 12 students who don’t meet the vaccination requirements. If the required information is not received, the student could be suspended for up to 20 days from February 5, 2024, or until their records are updated.
