4,700 Niagara students risk suspension

Deadline looms for immunization records updates

More than 4,700 Niagara elementary school students face suspension from school if they don’t have their vaccinations and immunization records up to date in the weeks to come.

But Niagara’s public health department is offering parents plenty of opportunities to either get their child the vaccinations they need, update their records, or opt out of the vaccinations all together — prior to a March 20 deadline.

“Public health is really here to support parents,” said Niagara’s vaccine and preventable disease program manager, Kim Friesen. “We have all kinds of clinics set up that parents can bring their kids to, if they are still overdue for vaccinations.”

Clinics are running throughout March break, giving parents a last chance to ensure their child has all the required immunization.

“We really want to support parents in getting their children immunized, that’s really what we’re here for.”

Friesen said public health sent 7,693 notices to parents of elementary school children in October and November, informing them that their child’s immunization records needed updating.

“If parents don’t respond to that notice, then we generate a suspension order and send it out,” she said, adding 4,715 suspension orders were issued in January, informing parents they have until March 20 to get the issues resolved.

Friesen said there was a “small increase” in the number of suspension notices sent home with elementary school students this year, as a result of changes to the legislation that include requiring varicella vaccinations for children born in 2010.

Although about 500 students were suspended last year, Friesen said most of them aren’t away from classrooms for long.

“Usually, when parents realize their principals are serious they get a hold of us pretty quick, and we hold clinics here to get the children updated,” Friesen said, adding parents can also get their children vaccinated at doctors offices or walk-in clinics.

“Vaccines are pretty available. Usually that day or the next, kids are back in.”

Parents can also choose not to have their child vaccinated at all, and instead file a “legal exemption” with the health department.

“It’s just that updating the records is mandatory,” Friesen said. “Public health needs to know if a child has been vaccinated … or if the parent has elected not to immunize their children do to conscientious beliefs or their religion.”

The changes to the legislation also now requires parents to complete an education program about the safety and effectiveness of immunizations, before they can obtain a legal exemption.

Niagara public health clinic supervisor Diane Legros said people have a variety of reasons for choosing against getting a child vaccinated.

“Sometimes it’s religion. Sometimes it’s a philosophical belief,” Legros said.

In some cases, vaccinations have been the “victim of their own success,” she added.

“They’re so efficient and so effective that many of the people who have children right now have no idea what any of these diseases look like and how severe the complications can be,” Legros said. “Most of the places that have had a decrease in immunization rates because people have decided for whatever reason that they’re not of importance anymore, we definitely see an increase in instances of disease.”