Chatham-Kent Public Health is reporting that only 87 student suspensions have been handed out for failure to report their shots to the health unit.
Tuesday was the last day for parents to report the vaccines to avoid suspension at school. Program manager of school health, Stacy Rybansky said the number of students who needed shots started at roughly 900, then dropped to about 130 and finished at 87. She added vaccine records must be complete to protect students who are not vaccinated or under-vaccinated in case of an outbreak at school.
Rybansky said immunization records must be updated or a 20-day suspension will follow. She said students who are still suspended and need shots can get them at the health unit. Students will be cleared to return to school after the vaccine by being given a pink slip or by health unit officials calling the school. Rybansky estimates it will be about another week before all students across Chatham-Kent are properly vaccinated.
"To all of our nurses & program assistants who have been working tirelessly around the clock in order to get local students across Chatham-Kent up-to-date on immunizations and helping to protect our community against preventable diseases - Thank You!" the health unit tweeted late Tuesday afternoon.
Ontario's Immunization of School Pupils Act requires that children and adolescents attending school be appropriately immunized against designated diseases, unless they have a valid exemption, such as a medical reason or due to conscience or religious belief. Students in Ontario must have proof of immunization against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningococcal Disease, Whooping Cough, and Chickenpox for children born in 2010 or later.
