The Perth District Health Unit has mailed out about 208 suspension orders to Perth County students whose immunization records are not up to date.
A review of the records of all students attending school in the county originally found 1,960 students did not have the required immunization information or a valid exemption.
Suspension orders take affect for 208 students on May 17, unless the health unit receives the required information before then.
“We do not want any children to miss school because the health unit does not have an up-to date immunization record,” says Public Health Nurse Lorna Askes. “The health unit can remove suspension orders up until May 16 if we receive the required immunization information or a valid exemption.”
Health unit staff have been contacting families to get missing records, or to advise them on which immunizations are needed.
They’ve also been holding immunization clinics at health unit offices.
If you receive a suspension order, you need to forward the updated information to the health unit, get the needed vaccines or request an exemption package.
“It is the parent’s responsibility to report all immunizations to the health unit. If the health unit has a completed record for your child, they are not at risk of suspension,” says Askes.