Point Edward, ON – Parents and guardians will receive a first notice of incomplete immunization from Lambton Public Health (LPH) beginning this week if their child’s immunization record is not up to date according to the records reported by parents and guardians to LPH.

To attend school in Ontario, the Immunization of School Pupils Act, 1990 (ISPA) requires students to be vaccinated against the following diseases or obtain a valid exemption: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningococcal disease, and Varicella.

Immunization records are not automatically reported by health care providers to LPH. Parents or guardians are required to report immunizations or a valid exemption to LPH and ensure all records are up to date for each school year. This means if a child’s immunizations have not yet been reported by the parent or guardian to LPH, then a child may still receive a first notice letter even if the child has received all required vaccinations.

“We have been working with local school boards over the past two years to help remind parents and guardians to report their child’s immunizations to LPH and to visit their health care provider to receive missing vaccines,” said Crystal Palleschi, Health Protection Supervisor for Lambton Public Health. “LPH has sent three reminder letters and enhanced public communications prior to resuming the annual suspension process that was paused during the pandemic. We’ve seen a steady increase in reporting, and the push is on now to update approximately 6,000 student records before March to avoid suspension.”

The notice is the first step in the suspension process. Individuals need to respond before January 23rd, 2024. Step two involves a Suspension Order mailed in early February 2024. If there is no response to the Suspension Order, suspension from school will be effective March 5, 2024, for up to 20 days or until public health records are updated.

LPH wants children to stay in school, so we are here to support parents and guardians to ensure records received at LPH are up to date. Options to report records, view records, or learn how to complete the exemption process, are found on LPH’s website. If a child requires an immunization, please contact your health care provider, or book an appointment at an LPH clinic.

For more information visit: https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/reporting-immunizations/ and GetTheVaccine.ca. If you have any questions, call Lambton Public Health at 226-254-8222 or toll-free at 1-800-667-1839.

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Please contact:
LPH-media-inquiries@county-lambton.on.ca