The number of students behind on immunizations has been slashed in more than half since 2023, Algoma Public Health reports<\/p>\n
The number of students behind on immunization records has plummeted in the Algoma region.<\/p>\n
According to Algoma Public Health, the number of local students aged 4 to 18 with incomplete immunization records has been cut by more than half since 2023.<\/p>\n
In July 2023, 7,655 students had incomplete immunization records across the region, which dropped to 3,755 students in January 2025.<\/p>\n
This past July, just 1,717 elementary and high school students were still overdue on mandatory vaccines, according to the most recent report from Dr. Jennifer Loo, medical officer of health and CEO.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to do the work of receiving immunization records and documenting them and supporting families to get folks up to date, and we\u2019ll keep on doing this work until such time that a centralized provincial or national immunization information system is built,\u201d said Loo at Wednesday\u2019s board of health meeting.<\/p>\n
Catch-up clinics are running this fall, said Loo\u2019s report, in order to \u201chelp Algoma students get up to date on their vaccines and immunization records, as required by the Immunization of School Pupils Act.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ISPA protects children against nine designated vaccine-preventable diseases,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese vaccines are delivered through primary care settings, school-based immunization programs, and at APH clinics for individuals without a health-care provider.\u201d<\/p>\n