Chatham-Kent's (CK) Medical Officer of Health is urging parents to update their children's vaccines.
CK Public Health has issued 1,734 first‑notice letters to parents and guardians of students with incomplete immunization records.
Under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act, students are required to be vaccinated against or have a valid exemption for Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis), and Varicella (Chicken Pox).
CK Medical Officer of Health Dr. Shanker Nesathurai said immunization records are not automatically shared with the health unit by healthcare providers, and parents may receive a notice even if their child is fully vaccinated.
"Approximately a quarter of the first notices were mailed to families with children starting Kindergarten,” said Dr Nesathurai. “The beginning of school comes with a lot for parents to remember. As part of getting ready, we want to remind parents to forward their child’s immunization information to CK Public Health before the start of school.”
Nesathurai said there are 16,000 students across Chatham-Kent, and unvaccinated students can shut down a school if they are infected with measles, as an example.
"The vast majority of people are vaccinated, we just don't have the report. For those people who are not vaccinated, this is a chance to get caught up. One can get caught up by getting vaccinated at their doctor's office, at a community health centre, at a clinic, or in some cases at the public health service itself," Nesathurai noted.
CK Public Health is asking those who received a first notice to ensure their children stay compliant with the law and avoid suspension by reviewing their child’s immunization records to confirm they are complete, or contacting their healthcare provider for missing vaccinations, or reaching out to the CK Public Health School Health Team for clinic options.
Updated immunization information can be submitted to CK Public Health online at ckphu.com/child-immunizations, mailed to, or dropped off at 435 Grand Avenue East in Chatham (2nd Floor), or by calling 519-352-7270 extension 2457.
CK Public Health warned that a suspension order will be issued during the first week of February for students with incomplete records, and they will be suspended from school if requirements aren't met by March 10.
CK Public Health noted it is committed to keeping students in the classroom and is ready to collaborate with parents to ensure their child’s vaccines are completed and accurately reported.
Click here for more information about child immunizations.
