Parents whose children have been suspended should contact Algoma Public Health immediately: once documentation is reviewed and entered into its system, many students can return to school the next day<\/p>\n
Sault and Algoma District parents are catching up on having their children immunized against several diseases after some students were suspended from school for not getting their shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn March, approximately 1,900 suspension orders were issued to students whose immunization records had still not been updated. These orders were scheduled to go into effect on Monday, May 4,\u201d said Candice Carter, Algoma Public Health (APH) manager of immunization in an email.<\/p>\n
As of Monday, May 4, 594 students had been suspended from school under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, Carter said.<\/p>\n
Students could be suspended from school for up to 20 school days if not immunized.<\/p>\n
\u201cFamilies can end a suspension by providing updated immunization records or appropriate documentation to Algoma Public Health. Since suspensions began, these numbers have come down to 337 and they continue to go down by the minute,\u201d Carter said Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Approximately 3,400 families received notices in November 2025 indicating their child\u2019s immunization record was missing information or showed vaccines may be overdue.<\/p>\n
A reminder from APH urging parents to have their children vaccinated for serious illnesses, such as measles and whooping cough, appeared on SooToday March 26<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder Ontario\u2019s Immunization of School Pupils Act, students must have up-to-date immunizations or a valid exemption for diphtheria, polio, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease, pertussis (whooping cough), and varicella (chickenpox \u2013 required for children born in or after 2010) to attend school. Algoma Public Health reviews student immunization records each year and works closely with families to update records before any enforcement action is taken,\u201d Carter said.<\/p>\n If a child has been suspended, their parent or caregiver should contact APH right away to update records.<\/p>\n \u201cIn most cases, students are able to return to school once proof of immunization is provided and their records are updated with Algoma Public Health. Once records are submitted, they are entered into our system and reviewed to ensure the student is up to date. The nurse will then contact the parent or guardian to advise that the child may return to school the next school day,\u201d Carter said.<\/p>\n \u201cAlgoma Public Health continues to work directly with families, schools, and health-care providers to support students in getting vaccinated and updating their records, with the goal of minimizing disruptions to learning and keeping schools safe. We work closely with parents and caregivers, particularly when they contact us and are experiencing barriers or access issues.\u201d<\/p>\n How to update your child\u2019s immunization records<\/p>\n Please ensure any submission includes your child\u2019s full name and date of birth.<\/p>\n
Email: Send a photo of the vaccine record to [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>
Fax: 705-541-5959 (confidential fax)<\/p>\n
By phone:<\/p>\n
Online: Submit the record online at\u202fwww.algomapublichealth.com\/icon<\/a><\/p>\n
If your child needs vaccinations<\/p>\n
If you have a healthcare provider, make an appointment directly with them for the required vaccine(s). After the appointment, please submit the vaccination record to APH.<\/p>\n
If you do not have a healthcare provider, a walk-in clinic<\/a> may be able to provide routine immunization. Call your local walk-in clinic to see if this is an option.<\/p>\n
Call your local APH office<\/a> to book an appointment.<\/p>\n
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\n\t(Note: If you are sending us personal information by email, please be aware that electronic communication is not always secure and can be vulnerable to interception).<\/p>\n
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