Three new shots mandatory for students in Ontario

Ontario children will have to prove they’ve been immunized for whooping cough, chickenpox and meningococcal disease before reporting for school in September. Health Minister Deb Matthews announced the change Wednesday, saying a recent outbreak of measles in Ontario has raised concerns about “protecting kids from potentially deadly diseases.” Shots for the three diseases are covered under provincial health insurance but Matthews said information on how many children have not been give the shots is not immediately available. “We’re going to make sure kids going to school have them,” Matthews told reporters. The new regulation applies to both primary and secondary school students and the requirement for the chickenpox vaccination is only for children born in 2010 or later.

Matthews took aim at actress and daytime TV star Jenny McCarthy, who became an anti-vaccine advocate in the belief her son’s autism was triggered by a vaccine.

“It’s outrageously irresponsible . . . the study she’s referring to has been discredited,” she said, referring to a 1998 paper by Andrew Wakefield. The study has since been retracted by the Lancet, which published it.

Toronto Public Health put out a fact sheet last year debunking claims there’s a link between autism and vaccines for measles, the mumps and rubella.

Dose requirements for tetanus, diphtheria, polio and mumps vaccinations have been updated as well.

Matthews said parents should check with their doctor or local public health unit to make sure their children’s immunization records are up to date.

Ontario health insurance now funds 21 vaccines to protect against 16 diseases.