The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit says 13,710 high school students will face suspension in September if their immunization records are not up to date.
The health unit has sent notification letters to students and their parents this week.
The health doctor, Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, says that some of the students have probably received their immunizations, but have not registered them in the system.
“13,000 is a staggering number,” says Nesathurai.
WECHU CEO Nicole Dupuis says it is a great company for the health unit staff. They will work to provide education and notification before the September deadline.
The health unit does not yet have an up-to-date number of basic vaccination records.
Under the School Immunization Act, students must be vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, meningococcus, chickenpox and polio, or have a medical exemption, conscience or religious beliefs in force in the file of the health unit.
Students with incomplete immunization records at the start of the 2022/2023 school year (September) will receive a notice of suspension suspending them from school for a maximum of 20 days.
Nesathurai also encourages 7th graders and older to receive the HPV vaccine to protect themselves against HPV-related infections and cancers. He says only one percent are vaccinated against HPV in the region.
Book an appointment at a WECHU immunization clinic:
The health unit hosts clinical journals in the community and at the Health Unit offices by appointment only. Public health nurses will be available to update the student’s immunization record and / or administer vaccines against hepatitis B, HPV, and meningococcal disease if necessary. An appointment can be booked online at www.wechu.org/getimmunized or by calling 519-258-2146 Ext. 4500.
Registration of your child’s immunization record in the health unit:
- Report online
- Fax: 519-258-7288.
- Call: 519-258-2146 ext.1222.
- Mail or take your child’s records to WECHU’s Windsor or Leamington offices.