Peel Public Health says nearly 16,000 students in the region could be suspended due to incomplete immunization records.
In a news release, Peel Public Health (PPH) said as of the week of March 9, 15,81 students are “slated for potential suspension” and suspension orders are set to go out throughout March and April.
“The exact number varies by week and is expected to decrease as PPH continues to work quickly with families to receive updated vaccination information,” the news released continued.
“Medical Officers of Health have the operational discretion to make decisions about ISPA enforcement. Suspension is a last resort and is used only when the required documentation is not received by the deadline.”
Dr. Hetal Patel, the associate medical officer of health for Peel Region, said are working with families to ensure learning is not disrupted for students with incomplete records.
“The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) exists to protect children from serious, vaccine preventable diseases that can spread quickly in school settings,” Patel said.
“We know tracking and reporting vaccination records can feel overwhelming, especially for families juggling priorities. That’s why we’re working closely with families and school boards to help students catch up as quickly as possible.”
Two separate notification letters are sent out a few months apart with “clear instruction” on how to catch up and report missing doses to the public health unit before a suspension order is issued.
“PPH is holding in-school vaccination catch up clinics for secondary students. Families can also book an appointment for March Break clinics,” the news release continued.
“Public health nurses will provide extra onsite support to schools leading up to suspension periods. Staff have also equipped school boards with webinars and communication toolkits to help guide families through the process.”
Earlier this month, Toronto Public Health announced that students who faced suspension over incomplete vaccination records will be able to remain in the classroom for the rest of the year in an effort to give families more time get children up to date and report the vaccinations to the public health unit.
“More than 50,000 student records were not up to date at the start of the school year. While many students have been caught up, there are still approximately 30,000 students who are outstanding,” Toronto Public Health said in a news release issued on March 6.
Under ISPA, students must have proof of vaccination for measles, mumps, diphtheria, rubella, tetanus, polio, pertussis (whooping cough) and meningococcal disease. Alternatively, parents can seek a formal exemption for medical reasons or on the grounds of conscience or religious beliefs. All non-medical exemptions require parents and guardians to complete a mandatory education session.
With files from CTV News Toronto’s Alex Arsenych