Parents have until September 19 to get their child's immunization records updated, or they could be suspended from school for up to 20 days.
Officials at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit are currently reviewing the records of students born between the years of 2008 and 2013.
Parents with children whose records were incomplete should have received a notice from the health unit in May, June, and again this month.
School-aged children are supposed to have nine different immunizations. They are diphtheria, pertussis or whooping cough, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease. The chicken pox vaccine is required for those born in 2010 and later.
There are four ways to notify the health unit that a child's vaccines are current. The health unit has a reporting system at www.immune.wechu.org. Parents can call the Healthy Schools Department at 519-258-2146 or 1-800-265-5822 ext. 1222. Records can also be faxed to the health unit at 519-258-7288. They can be dropped off in person at 1005 Ouellette Ave. in Windsor, 360 Fairview Ave. Suite 215 in Essex, and in Leamington at 33 Princess Ave. Suite 120.
Once a child has all of its immunizations, parents need to contact the health unit which will revise the records. If a student has been suspended by then, health officials will notify the school principal that the suspension has been lifted.
The suspensions are required under the Immunization of School Pupils Act. It protects the health of children and the greater community by preventing the spread of preventable diseases.
