More than 1,400 Waterloo Region high school students suspended over vaccines

More than 1,400 Waterloo Region secondary school students were suspended Wednesday for out-ofdate vaccination records.

Contrary to the Immunization of School Pupils Act, which requires all elementary and secondary school student to have proof of vaccination for diphtheria, polio, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox and meningitis, 1,428 were not allowed in the classroom May 1 until immunization records were updated.

Records of the vaccinations or a valid exemption must be on file with Region of Waterloo Public Health.

The number has come down considerably since the beginning of April, when there were 6,819 suspension orders for high school students.

“The vaccines required under the act help to prevent serious infections and are important to maintain teenagers’ health and protect them from disease,” said Dr. HsiuLi Wang, Region of Waterloo’s medical officer of health, in a news release.

“Reporting your vaccines or submitting an exemption will ensure a quick resolution of the suspension.”

Elementary students had an earlier deadline of March 26 to provide proof of vaccination or a valid exemption, with nearly 3,000 students suspended at that time.

If a student is suspended, an inperson appointment can be booked at regionofwaterloo.ca/vaccines to resolve it. Vaccination clinics are open at 99 Regina St. S. in Waterloo and 30 Christopher Dr. in Cambridge, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are currently open until May 6 and will continue to be added as needed.

Once public health has processed the vaccination record form, the student’s suspension will be resolved. Due to high volumes, it may take one to two business days to process submissions. Once resolved, the family will receive an email and the student can return to school the following day.

For help booking an appointment or questions, call 519-883-2020. Due to high call volumes, the call may be managed by an automated response service.