Immunizations not up to date could spell suspention for area students

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
News Release

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The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit is currently reviewing the immunization records of every elementary school student in the district. If a child’s immunization record is not complete, their family will be sent a letter from the Health Unit requesting the required information. Students without up to date records may be suspended from school. The Immunization of School Pupils Act gives the Health Unit the authority to suspend students if they do not have up to date immunization records.

Over the next week, students without up to date records will be sent the first letter requesting the required information be provided to the Health Unit.

If you receive a notice that your child’s information is missing, it does not mean your child will actually be suspended. Students are removed from the suspension list when the Health Unit receives the missing information.
Suspension notices will be issued at the beginning of April to students who still have incomplete immunization records. If students’ immunizations are not up to date, they will be suspended either April 28 or May 17, depending on the school the child attends. The date will be indicated on the first letter received.

If you have any questions, call the Health Unit at 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808, ext. 2252. You can also visit www.healthunit.biz for general information on childhood immunizations.

Quick Facts

Health units are required to maintain complete immunization records on every student registered in a school in their district.

Even though your child’s immunizations may be up to date, Health Unit files may not be. Here’s how to update your child’s information:

o Physicians do not report to us what immunizations they give in their offices. You must get the information from their office and provide it to the Health Unit.

o Your child may have received their immunizations in a different area of Ontario. You may need to contact the health unit in that area to get the required information and submit it to us.

o If your child’s yellow card lists all the immunizations they have had, you can provide us with a copy. We can update our records and confirm their records are complete.

If your child does need immunizations, you can:

o Call the Health Unit to make an appointment for the required immunizations.

o Get your child immunized at his or her physicians’ office. However, you will still need to get that information to the Health Unit so that we can update our records.

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