Ottawa Public Health issuing suspension notices to students for out-of-date vaccinations

Vaccines are prepared for students during a pop-up immunization clinic at a school in Louisville, Ky., on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon, File)

Ottawa Public Health is now issuing suspension notices to seven-year-old and 17-year-old students with out-of-date vaccinations at Ottawa’s four public school boards, reminding families to update routine childhood vaccination records immediately.

Approximately 15,000 first notices were issued in December to students born in 2008 and 2018, informing families that their child’s vaccine record on file with OPH was incomplete. The health unit said families were notified that they had one month to update the record before a second notice, which includes a suspension order, is issued.

“Before any suspension is implemented, OPH’s focus is on ensuring families understand how to verify their records, obtain any missing routine vaccinations, and report updated information to OPH,” the health unit said.

A student with an incomplete immunization record faces a 20-day suspension from school. The suspension is rescinded when a record of immunization or a medical exemption is provided to the health unit.

Ottawa Public Health said on Monday that the issuing of second notices started in December and will continue through February.

“Families receiving a second notice have an additional month to provide updated records before a suspension takes effect,” the health unit said.

“Student suspensions began in mid‑January and will continue through March, aligned with a staggered schedule by school board, for students who do not respond to either notice.”

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).

Ottawa Public Health reminds parents to check your child’s vaccine record and report the vaccine to Ottawa Public Health. Health officials say you can update your child’s immunization record by submitting their records online, through the Immunization Connect Ontario Tool (ICON), or the CANImmunize App.

During the 2024-25 school year, approximately 3,000 seven and 17-year-old students in Ottawa were suspended for out-of-date vaccination records.

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