Student immunization record assessment activities begin at Public Health Sudbury & Districts

Public Health Sudbury & Districts (Public Health) is conducting its annual review of immunization records for students attending secondary schools in its service area.

The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) R.S.O.1990 requires all students under the age of 18 to have an up-to-date immunization record or to have a valid immunization exemption to attend school in Ontario. As outlined in the legislation, Public Health must collect and maintain immunization records for students in its service area. Under the ISPA, the Medical Officer of Health can issue suspension orders to students who do not meet the requirements of the ISPA, preventing them from attending school until their records are updated.

To start the annual record review process, an immunization notice will be mailed to all secondary students in Grades 9 to 12 for whom Public Health does not have an up-to-date immunization record. This could mean that the student’s most recent vaccine records have not been received by Public Health or that the student is overdue for one or more vaccines. The notice specifies which of the required vaccine(s) are missing from the student’s record and how to update the information with Public Health.

Public Health will be working closely with local school boards, students, parents, and guardians in the coming months to ensure that immunization records are updated and that required vaccines that have not been received are administered and reported to Public Health so that students can avoid suspension.

“At this time there are about 1700 students enrolled in secondary schools across our service area who will receive a letter asking them to provide immunization information to Public Health,” said David Groulx, a manager with Public Health’s Vaccine Preventable Diseases team. “Students who do not have the required immunizations will be advised in the letter to get vaccinated and to report this information to Public Health. It will also provide a potential date of suspension for the student if the information is not received. A second letter will be mailed four weeks later for those who remain outstanding with the ISPA requirements, and the suspension will take effect on the date indicated in the notice if the information has not been received,” said Groulx.

It is anticipated that first notification letters for elementary students will be mailed out later in 2024. Catch-up clinic appointments will be offered by Public Health during the summer so that children can obtain any vaccines that they are missing. Parents and guardians of elementary students are urged to ensure their child’s immunizations are up-to-date and reported to Public Health over the summer months to avoid suspension.

Vaccines against diseases that are designated under the Immunization of School Pupils Act are free, safe, and effective, and protect against cases and outbreaks of diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, pertussis, and chickenpox.

In Ontario, parents and guardians are responsible for reporting immunizations for their school-aged children to a public health unit. Health care providers are not required to report immunizations for their patients to Public Health.

Please refer to Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule (Ontario Government) for information about vaccinations your child can receive free of charge to have the best protection.

How to check or update your child’s immunization records

1. CHECK: Check your child’s immunization record for any missing vaccines by referring to Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) (Government of Ontario).
2. VACCINATE: Ensure your child receives any missing immunizations by making an appointment with your health care provider or with Public Health.
3. UPDATE: Update your child’s immunization record with Public Health using one of the following methods:
   • Visit Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) (Government of Ontario).
   • Send an email to ISPA@phsd.ca (Public Health). *Requires consent to be used to send personal or personal health information.
   • Call Public Health at 705.522.9200, ext. 458 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).
   • Send a fax to 705.677.9616 (confidential school vaccine fax).

   Public health nurses are available to your answer questions by phone, email, and in person. Appointments for immunizations are available throughout Public Health’s service area during regular business hours. Weekend appointments may be offered in the coming months to better serve our communities, and updates about these will be shared with the community as opportunities arise.

   For more information on immunization requirements or exemptions, parents and guardians can call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 458 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200), email ispa@phsd.ca, or visit phsd.ca.