Back on April 9, over 700 secondary school students were sent home for having incomplete vaccination records; they were told they couldn’t return until the records had been updated.
Now, it’s the elementary school kids’ turn.
Region of Waterloo Public Health (ROW Public Health) is advising families of kids in junior kindergarten to Grade 8, whose vaccination records are incomplete, to submit the records as soon as possible.
Between January and February of this year, ROW Public Health issued 9,234 letters requesting that student vaccination records be updated.
Throughout March, 7,065 suspension orders were mailed out for records that remained incomplete. Dr. Hsiu Li Wang, Medical Officer of Health, Region of Waterloo, warned families in a press release not to wait until the last minute.
“Due to the high number of expected suspensions, waiting until suspension day to update records could mean missing extra days of school before they can return.”
The deadline to submit up-to-date records or a valid exemption is Monday, May 4, at 4:30 p.m.
Students will start being sent home, Thursday, May 7.
What to do if your child received a suspension notice
If your child is vaccinated, records can be submitted to ROW Public Health.
Vaccine appointments can be made with your primary care provider. Some walk-in clinics offer vaccines, call ahead to confirm. Be sure to report the vaccine to ROW Public Health. That is something your doctor’s office will not do.
Those without a primary care provider can also book vaccine appointments through ROW Public Health.
The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires all elementary and secondary school students to have proof of these vaccinations or a valid exemption on file with Public Health.
