Ottawa Public Health begins issuing suspension notices for out-of-date vaccinations

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Are your child's vaccinations records up to date?

Possible suspensions for out-of-date vaccines

Ottawa Public Health is reminding parents and guardians to check their child’s vaccination status, as suspension notices are being sent out to students behind on their mandatory vaccinations.

More than 11,000 students born in 2007 and 2017 received first notices in December and January about incomplete immunization records. Interim medical officer of health Dr. Trevor Arnason says the health unit is now sending out second notices to 7- and 17-year-old children.

“What happens is if there is no response to the second notice after five weeks, then the child in those two age cohorts will be suspended from school until the records are updated,” Dr. Arnason told CTV Morning Live.

A student with an incomplete immunization record faces a 20-day suspension. The suspension will be rescinded when a record of immunization is provided or a statement of medical exemption is provided.

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, children attending school in Ontario are required to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and meningococcal disease. Children born in or after 2010 must also be vaccinated against varicella (chicken pox).

“These diseases are quite concerning. We’re seeing measles cases around the world, we’re seeing the potential for exposure in Ontario,” Arnason said Wednesday morning.

“The reason we need to get these up to date so that we know, in the event of an outbreak or a case here in Ottawa, which children in school are vaccinated and to ensure high coverage levels so we can prevent outbreaks.”

Arnason says parents and guardians can receive immunizations from family doctors and nurse practitioners. Ottawa Public Health is working with CHEO’s Kids Come First to run a community clinic to update immunizations, and the health unit offers Health and Wellness Hubs.

‘The suspension is really a last resort. It’s outlined in the law that we’re following, but Public Health doesn’t want to suspend children,” Arnason said.

“We’re encouraging anyone with any barriers to reach out to us and we can make arrangements and help people get vaccinated.”

Ottawa Public Health says the suspension order notices will be mailed out through April, with suspensions starting in March through to May.

If parents or guardians receive a letter, they should first check their child’s vaccine record and compare it to Ontario’s routine immunization schedule. Next, they need to update their child’s vaccine information with OPH using the online Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) Tool or the CANImmunize App.

Arnason says parents do have the option not to vaccinate their child.

“There are exemptions within the Immunization of School Pupils Act; there’s a process for that. You would basically have to complete a form for the (Ministry of Education,” Arnason said. “The important thing is people recognize that they can’t just not report any vaccines or that their child is not going to be vaccinated, otherwise they’ll face suspension.”