Health Unit Upholds Provincial Compliance Under Immunization of School Pupils Act

PORT HOPE, ON (April 22, 2024) –The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) would like to inform the community that second notices are being issued to parents/guardians to remind them to update their child's immunization records with the HKPR District Health Unit to avoid suspension in May.

The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) R.S.O.1990 (ISPA) requires all students in Ontario to be vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and varicella or have a valid exemption on file with the Health Unit. 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. Those with incomplete records are at risk of being suspended from school for up to 20 days.

"Our goal is to ensure all student vaccination records are kept up to date according to the Immunization of School Pupils Act,” said Marianne Rock, Manager of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control for the HKPR District Health Unit. “If you’ve received notification and your child has had all of their recent vaccinations or has a valid exemption, this means that you need to contact us to ensure our records are updated as we don’t necessarily receive these updates from your health care providers.”

Suspension Orders will be Issued Week of April 22
Students who remain overdue will receive suspension orders the week of April 22, 2024. The Health Unit estimates approximately 2,000 suspension orders going to parents/legal guardians of students in Junior Kindergarten (JK) to Grade 2 and Grades 4 to 8 who do not meet the ISPA requirements. If the Health Unit does not receive the required information for a student’s immunization file, they will be suspended from school starting May 13, 2024, for up to 20 days or until Health Unit records are updated to meet ISPA requirements.

Why Did I Receive a Notice of Suspension?
This means the student’s record with the Health Unit is missing information, either because a parent/legal guardian has not yet submitted the immunization information or a valid exemption to the Health Unit, or the student has not yet received the immunizations.

How to Update Your Child’s Immunization Record with the Health Unit
Parents and/or guardians need to ensure their child’s immunization records with the Health Unit are up to date by:

1. CHECK: Check your child’s immunization record for any missing vaccines.
   Go to the Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) web site or contact the Health Unit.
2. VACCINATE: Ensure your child receives any missing vaccinations or has a valid exemption.
   Contact your health care provider to book an immunization appointment. If you do not have a health care provider, please contact the Health Unit to book an immunization appointment.
3. UPDATE: Update your child’s immunization record with the Health Unit.
   It is the responsibility of parents and/or guardians to provide proof of immunization or a valid exemption by one of the following methods:
• Online using the Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) web site
• Phone 1-866-888-4577 x 1507
• Fax 905-885-5352
• Email*: immunization@hkpr.on.ca
  *requires consent to send personal and/or personal health information.

School-aged Immunization Clinics*
Since August 2023, the HKPR District Health Unit has been hosting School-aged Immunization Clinics* to provide families without a healthcare provider access to immunizations to meet the ISPA requirements. Families without a health care provider can book an appointment online or call the Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577 x 1507.

Additional Information:

• Ministry of Health: Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunizations Schedule

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