Latest news with #ImmunizationofSchoolPupilsAct
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kitchener high school closed after measles exposure, cases in Waterloo region climb to 59
Eastwood Collegiate Institute in Kitchener is closed for Thursday after a confirmed case of measles. The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) says the school was closed to give Region of Waterloo Public Health the time it needs to complete required steps in vaccination verification. The confirmed case of measles at Eastwood Collegiate also caused exposures on May 7 and May 8. Public health will be reaching out to people who may have been exposed to the virus on those days. They will be given information about the required next steps. "We continue to work closely with public health to ensure appropriate infection prevention and control practices are in place and that we have the necessary support," WRDSB said in a notice posted online on Wednesday night. David Aoki, the region's director of infectious disease and chief nursing officer, said public health didn't order the school to be closed but they "work together with the school board" to make the decision. "Public health did not say that it must be closed, but we certainly support the the decision in this case while we work to work through this kind of exposure," he said. "We do have to verify for staff and students what their their records are. We obviously have a lot of the student records already because of the Immunization of School Pupils Act, but it's based on the timing and our ability to do that." The public school board said Eastwood students will continue their classes virtually. It says some students may use the day to work on previously-assigned homework. There were 920 high school students across Waterloo region who were suspended from school last week for not having up-to-date vaccination records on file with public health. The news is particularly concerning because there's a rise of measles cases throughout the province, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's medical officer of health, said in a release last Thursday announcing the suspensions. "Vaccination is the best way to protect against serious illness," Wang said in a press release. The Immunization of School Pupils Act says students must be vaccinated or have a valid exemption on file in order to attend school. 59 cases in Waterloo region There are now 59 measles cases in Waterloo region and 53 in the area covered by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. The new numbers were released by Public Health Ontario on Thursday and reflect 11 new cases in Waterloo region and seven in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph between May 6 to May 13. In all of Ontario, there were 182 new cases in the same time period, bringing the total to 1,622. Dr. Nicola Mercer, CEO and medical officer of health for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, said in an email to CBC News on Thursday that the area has been designated a risk area for transmission of measles and people should take that seriously. "The virus is spreading in the general population and those who are not vaccinated or immune are at risk for getting and transmitting measles," she said. "I encourage everyone who is not yet vaccinated to contact your primary care provider or public health." Aoki said they are also encouraging people who are not fully vaccinated to talk to a doctor or public health about their options. He said there are people who are opting not to get themselves or their children vaccinated, and in some cases, that's because people have forgotten how serious measles can be. "There are people who have concerns about vaccines and then we try to reach those," he said. "I think for measles, unfortunately, is a victim of its own success," he added. "We really haven't seen any outbreaks or transmission of measles like this since the 1990s and really that's because of vaccines. So we haven't ... had to worry about measles deaths or injuries because we haven't seen it." Schools in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph with exposures In the area covered by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, four schools are listed as having measles exposures, with one school having three separate exposure dates: April 28 to April 29 — Central Peel Public School in Drayton. May 1 — Erin Public School. April 30 to May 1 — Paisley Road Public School. May 2 — Guelph Outdoor School. May 2 — Erin Public School. May 5 — Erin Public School. Other exposure locations Region of Waterloo Public Health says measles starts out feeling like a cold, with symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, and red, watery eyes that are sensitive to light. After that, small white spots sometimes appear in the mouth and back of the throat and three to seven days later, a red blotchy rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. The rash lasts up to seven days. If people are exposed, they should monitor for symptoms for three weeks. The following are a list of exposure locations (not including schools mentioned above) listed by Region of Waterloo Public Health: April 24 to April 25 — Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (Bachman-Turner Overdrive: Back In Overdrive 2025 concert). April 26 to April 27 — Waterloo Region Health Network at Midtown (formerly Grand River Hospital) emergency department. May 1 — Chick-fil-A in Cambridge. May 2 — Elite Auto Care, Cambridge. May 2 — V Nails and Beauty, Cambridge. May 3 to May 4 — Shoppers Drug Mart, 700 Strasburg Rd., Kitchener. May 3 to May 4 — Waterloo Region Health Network at Queen's Blvd. (formerly St. Mary's General Hospital) emergency department. May 4 — The Indian Supermarket, 2-509 Wilson Ave., Kitchener. May 4 — Walmart at Fairview Park Mall, Kitchener. May 4 to May 5 — Waterloo Region Health Network at Queen's Blvd. (formerly St. Mary's General Hospital) emergency department. May 6 — St. Jacobs Midwives, 2-9 Parkside Drive, St. Jacobs. May 6 — Eastbridge Medical, 4-370 Eastbridge Blvd., Waterloo. May 7 — KWIC Walk-in Clinic, 5 Manitou Dr., Kitchener. May 7 — KWIC Physiotherapy, 5 Manitou Dr., Kitchener. May 7 — OM India Food Centre, 5 Manitou Dr., Kitchener. May 8 — Cambridge Gateway Medical Centre (clinic and pharmacy), 102-460 Hespeler Rd., Cambridge. May 8 — Hespeler Medical Centre, B12-350 Conestoga Blvd., Cambridge. May 8 — McDonald's, 416 Hespeler Rd., Cambridge. May 8 and May 9 — Cambridge Memorial Hospital, emergency department. May 9 to May 10 — Food Basics, Elmira. The following are a list of community exposures in the area covered by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health: April 21 to April 23 — Mar-Span Home Hardware, Drayton. April 28 — a Girl Guides meeting at Knox United Church, Caledon. April 29 — Studio 3 Dance Orangeville Dance Studio, Orangeville. April 29 — Centre 2000, 14 Boland Dr, Erin. April 30 — Henning Salon, 193 Broadway, Orangeville. April 30 — Guelph Family Martial Arts, 340 Woodlawn Rd. W. Guelph. May 1 — Guelph Medical Place Pharmacy, 83 Dawson Rd., Guelph. May 1 — Orange Care Pharmacy, 170 Lakeview Ct., Orangeville. May 1 — Orangeville Medical Imaging, 314 Broadway, Orangeville. May 1 — Boston Pizza, 35 Woodlawn Rd. W., Guelph. May 1 — Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan St., Guelph. May 1 — Suzuki String School, 75 Cardigan St., Guelph. May 1 — Dance Spirit Studios, 75 Cardigan St., Guelph. May 1 — The Acting Centre, 75 Cardigan St., Guelph. May 4 — Fantasy Forged Cards & Collectibles, 113 Broadway, Orangeville. May 4 — The Blackwolf Smokehouse, 139 Broadway, Orangeville.
Hamilton Spectator
08-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Toronto Public Health is starting to suspend students over their vaccine records. Here's what to do if you've received a letter
Toronto Public Health has started to issue suspensions to some of the thousands of Toronto high school students whose records aren't up to date on required vaccinations. In a statement, the agency said over 10,000 Grade 11 students born in 2008 aren't caught up on immunizations in accordance with Ontario's Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). TPH is gradually rolling out these suspension orders, starting with 21 secondary schools, from which an initial group of 173 pupils were suspended Tuesday — a number that has since decreased to 131, according to Dr. Vinita Dubey. Dubey, TPH's associate medical officer of health, told the Star on Wednesday the decline in the suspensions is due to more vaccinations or valid exemptions being reported after the initial suspension orders. As of Wednesday, of a second group of students from another 20 public Toronto high schools, 268 Grade 11 students are being suspended. 'Every day there's going to be more and more students who will be suspended. And hopefully more and more students who will also come off the suspension list,' she said. Suspensions will be sent across Toronto post-secondary schools on a rolling schedule until May. TPH says from the first batch of students at the 21 schools, the records of 957 students — about 70 per cent — weren't up to date at first, which means they received a letter from TPH about the missing vaccinations. A month later, 58 per cent were up to date. The remaining 574 students were sent suspension orders. Ontario is experiencing one of its largest measles outbreaks in decades though most recent vaccine suspensions are related to other diseases . The ISPA requires students to be vaccinated for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and pertussis (whooping cough). Students must also receive the vaccine for varicella — commonly known as chickenpox — if they're born in 2010 or later. Under this act, immunizations for the nine diseases are mandatory unless a valid exemption is on file, for medical, religious or conscientious reasons. Failure to meet these requirements could lead to a suspension from school for up to 20 days. During the COVID-19 pandemic, routine school-based vaccination programs for Grade 7 students were mostly unavailable, resulting in a number of current Grade 11 students falling behind on vaccinations for hepatitis B, HPV and meningococcal vaccines. Dubey said it's normal for parents and students to take a while to respond to these letters due to factors including language barriers for newcomers and situations when parents don't recognize 'this is something that has to be dealt with right away, or even that there's a suspension associated with this.' The agency doesn't just rely on the letter to inform parents but also sends the suspension list to principals to contact students' parents. Immunization assessments were conducted by TPH starting in the fall, revealing that of the 24,678 students born in 2008, only 26 per cent were initially on record with their vaccinations, prompting the agency to send letters to the families of 18,320 students missing immunizations. By February, 59 per cent of students were up to date — but the remaining 10,000 who didn't meet the ISPA got notices that if they didn't provide updated information to TPH, they would be suspended. Dubey said sometimes the onus is on parents to contact TPH to provide a child's up-to-date immunization record to avoid suspension, even if their child has already received their required vaccines. This is because sometimes TPH doesn't have all records or the child might be missing a booster dose. 'What parents don't recognize is their child may be fully vaccinated and they did the right thing and they got the vaccination,' she said. 'But unfortunately, there's no way for the physician to report the vaccination directly to public health. And so this is where the parent actually has to report the vaccination to us,' she said, adding that they're 'better off' contacting TPH to make sure the record is up to date. TPH says this 'underscores the importance of an electronic immunization registry .' TPH can help clarify to parents what vaccines their children are missing and Dubey says 'as long as we know that the child has started the process of getting vaccinations, we can pause the suspension.' Parents and students can call TPH (416-338-7600) for questions.
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Hundreds more Hamilton students out of class for vaccine suspensions
More than a thousand Hamilton students missing vaccination records were suspended in what public health has said is the final wave for the school year. On Friday, 1,215 elementary students at Catholic schools, as well as students at French and private schools, were removed from class, associate medical officer of health Dr. Brendan Lew said in an email. Seven hundred of this group remained suspended as of Monday. This is the third round of post-pandemic enforcement, which numbers show has been effective in ensuring records are up to date. Of the 3,197 Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board elementary students missing records in January, 76 hadn't complied following suspensions of up to 20 days, the maximum time permitted under the Immunization of School Pupils Act. Among public and Catholic high school students, 316 were still missing records after 20-day suspensions, down from 7,615 in March. To comply with the act, Ontario students must submit proof of vaccination against nine illnesses — diphtheria, mumps, tetanus, polio, rubella, pertussis, varicella (if born after 2010), measles and meningococcal disease — to public health units, or request an exemption for medical or religious or philosophical reasons. As of late March, 4.5 per cent of Hamilton students were exempt, up from less than 2.5 per cent about a year ago and nearly three per cent before the pandemic in 2018-19. It's a 'worrisome' figure, Dawn Bowdish, a professor in the department of medicine at McMaster University, said at the time. The March rate was lower among elementary students at 3.9 per cent, and higher among secondary students at 6.3 per cent. About six per cent are exempt in Haldimand-Norfolk, the location of a measles outbreak of more than 100 cases, The Spectator reported in March. The highly contagious disease continues to spread in Ontario, with one case confirmed in Hamilton earlier this year. In Brantford and Brant County, the exemption rate is lower at about four per cent. Students without records or an exemption return to school after 20 days and 'would be subject to future enforcement' in future school years, Lew said. Public health will continue to remind these families to update their records. Planning for next year is 'ongoing,' he said, noting that elementary cohorts that didn't undergo enforcement this year, which includes those born between 2013 and 2016, will be prioritized.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Waterloo region reminds secondary students to update vaccination records as suspension deadline nears
The Region of Waterloo is reminding secondary school students with suspension orders to update their vaccination records by May 7, or be suspended from attending classes. "Suspension orders and information on how to take corrective measures were mailed to affected secondary school students in mid-March," said Lynsey Slupeiks, manager of corporate communications for Waterloo region, in a release sent out Monday. Vaccination requirements are part of the Immunization of School Pupils Act, which "requires all elementary and secondary school students to have proof of these vaccinations or a valid exemption on file with Public Health," the release said. Since the measles outbreak in October 2024, Ontario has seen more than 1,000 cases, most of which affect young people. (Dr. Erskine Palmer/CDC) Measles and vaccination "Routine vaccinations provide protection against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), and varicella (chickenpox)," Slupeiks said. Measles, in particular, has been a public health concern in Ontario since late last year. On April 24, Public Health Ontario reported that "a total of 1,020 people have had measles since the province's outbreak began last October." The report does not indicate how many of the cases are "active or communicable." Sarah Wilson, a medical epidemiologist at Public Health Ontario, said that the province is seeing 100 cases per week, which she describes as "100 cases too many." While it can affect adults, measles more commonly affects children, especially those who are not immunized. David Aoki, Chief Nursing Officer of Waterloo region, says it is very important to stay up to date with vaccinations. (Shutterstock) Public Health Ontario's report said many of the new cases are in southwestern Ontario, with three quarters of the cases affecting infants, children, and teens. David Aoki, the director of infectious diseases and Chief Nursing Officer for Waterloo region, says vaccines keep schools and children safe amidst the on-going measles outbreak. "It's very important to stay up to date and make sure that you're not bringing potentially an infection in the school, or not getting an infection while you're in the school," he said. Suspension orders: Elementary and Secondary Slupeiks said Public Health sent out 7,077 notices to secondary students with outdated vaccination records back in January. A total of 5,032 suspension orders were issued in mid-March. Approximately 2,380 secondary students were still not up to date as of April 24. As for elementary students, Waterloo region "issued nearly 9,000 suspension orders to elementary school children who don't have up-to-date vaccination records" back in February. On April 2, 1,624 elementary students were suspended. Aoki says as of April 24, only 70 elementary students were still suspended. Valid exemptions from vaccination requirement Aoki said that while vaccines are "very effective against the diseases that they vaccinate for," there are specific instances where receiving vaccination may not be appropriate. One of these situations is a medical exemption. "If your doctor feels there's a medical reason why getting a vaccine is not possible at this time, whether it be because of medication you're taking, a medical condition, a past reaction, then your doctor can provide a medical exemption and send it to Public Health," Aoki said. "Then there's what we call a statement of conscience or philosophical event," he added. This exemption is available to parents who feel that their values or beliefs are against vaccinations. Aoki said parents may have their children exempted from vaccinations after completing a "short [virtual] education session." Regardless of the type of exemption, students will have to report said exemption before May 8. What to do next Slupeiks reminds secondary students with suspension orders who already have updated vaccine records to report vaccines they have received to the region's vaccine website. Public health vaccinations are available to secondary students without the need for OHIP. All appointments with public health have to be done online. (Eric Risberg/The Canadian Press) If vaccines are needed, students may either book an appointment with their health-care provider, or at a public health clinic. Those who choose to get their vaccines via their health-care providers are required to report their vaccination to public health once vaccinated. Students who choose to make appointments with public health will have to book their vaccination appointments online. Vaccination appointments are available at three locations: 150 Main Street in Cambridge. 20 Weber Street in Kitchener. 99 Regina Street South in Waterloo. For students who booked vaccination appointments after the May 7 deadline, they are required to notify public health of said appointments to receive a temporary exemption on their record to prevent suspension. Students who have already reported vaccine records but have not yet received confirmation, as well as those who received confirmation from public health that they will not be suspended do not have to do anything else. The deadline to submit "up-to-date vaccination records, notification of an upcoming vaccination appointment, or a valid exemption" to public health is on May 7 at 4:30 pm. Suspensions take effect on May 8. For any questions, students and parents may visit the Region of Waterloo Public Health website.
CBC
28-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Waterloo region reminds secondary students to update vaccination records as suspension deadline nears
The Region of Waterloo is reminding secondary school students with suspension orders to update their vaccination records by May 7, or be suspended from attending classes. "Suspension orders and information on how to take corrective measures were mailed to affected secondary school students in mid-March," said Lynsey Slupeiks, manager of corporate communications for Waterloo region, in a release sent out Monday. Vaccination requirements are part of the Immunization of School Pupils Act, which "requires all elementary and secondary school students to have proof of these vaccinations or a valid exemption on file with Public Health," the release said. Measles and vaccination "Routine vaccinations provide protection against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), and varicella (chickenpox)," Slupeiks said. Measles, in particular, has been a public health concern in Ontario since late last year. On April 24, Public Health Ontario reported that "a total of 1,020 people have had measles since the province's outbreak began last October." The report does not indicate how many of the cases are "active or communicable." Sarah Wilson, a medical epidemiologist at Public Health Ontario, said that the province is seeing 100 cases per week, which she describes as "100 cases too many." Public Health Ontario's report said many of the new cases are in southwestern Ontario, with three quarters of the cases affecting infants, children, and teens. David Aoki, the director of infectious diseases and Chief Nursing Officer for Waterloo region, says vaccines keep schools and children safe amidst the on-going measles outbreak. "It's very important to stay up to date and make sure that you're not bringing potentially an infection in the school, or not getting an infection while you're in the school," he said. Suspension orders: Elementary and Secondary Slupeiks said Public Health sent out 7,077 notices to secondary students with outdated vaccination records back in January. A total of 5,032 suspension orders were issued in mid-March. Approximately 2,380 secondary students were still not up to date as of April 24. As for elementary students, Waterloo region " issued nearly 9,000 suspension orders to elementary school children who don't have up-to-date vaccination records" back in February. On April 2, 1,624 elementary students were suspended. Aoki says as of April 24, only 70 elementary students were still suspended. Valid exemptions from vaccination requirement Aoki said that while vaccines are "very effective against the diseases that they vaccinate for," there are specific instances where receiving vaccination may not be appropriate. One of these situations is a medical exemption. "If your doctor feels there's a medical reason why getting a vaccine is not possible at this time, whether it be because of medication you're taking, a medical condition, a past reaction, then your doctor can provide a medical exemption and send it to Public Health," Aoki said. "Then there's what we call a statement of conscience or philosophical event," he added. This exemption is available to parents who feel that their values or beliefs are against vaccinations. Aoki said parents may have their children exempted from vaccinations after completing a "short [virtual] education session." Regardless of the type of exemption, students will have to report said exemption before May 8. What to do next Slupeiks reminds secondary students with suspension orders who already have updated vaccine records to report vaccines they have received to the region's vaccine website. If vaccines are needed, students may either book an appointment with their health-care provider, or at a public health clinic. Those who choose to get their vaccines via their health-care providers are required to report their vaccination to public health once vaccinated. Students who choose to make appointments with public health will have to book their vaccination appointments online. Vaccination appointments are available at three locations: 150 Main Street in Cambridge. 20 Weber Street in Kitchener. 99 Regina Street South in Waterloo. For students who booked vaccination appointments after the May 7 deadline, they are required to notify public health of said appointments to receive a temporary exemption on their record to prevent suspension. Students who have already reported vaccine records but have not yet received confirmation, as well as those who received confirmation from public health that they will not be suspended do not have to do anything else. The deadline to submit "up-to-date vaccination records, notification of an upcoming vaccination appointment, or a valid exemption" to public health is on May 7 at 4:30 pm. Suspensions take effect on May 8.
