High school students in Simcoe Muskoka could face suspension this month if their vaccination records aren’t up to date.
On Tuesday, September 23rd, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) will begin enforcing suspension orders for Grade 11 and 12 students who have incomplete vaccine information, as required under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). Currently, more than 2,700 records remain outstanding across the region.
To help families update records, SMDHU is offering drop-in clinics at health unit offices in Barrie, Midland, Orillia, Cookstown, Collingwood, Huntsville, and Gravenhurst. Clinics will run the weeks of September 15th and September 22nd with varying hours. Students can also get immunizations through their healthcare provider but must report the information to the health unit, either online or by phone at 705-721-7520, ext. 8827.
Public health officials say keeping immunizations up to date protects students from serious vaccine-preventable diseases, helps prevent outbreaks in schools, and ensures the health unit can act quickly if one occurs.
More information about vaccines and the illnesses they prevent can be found here.
If you have a news tip or story idea, you can now send us a heads up via email at:
- News1013@LocalRadio.ca (Milton)
- News1015@LocalRadio.ca (Orangeville)
- News92@LocalRadio.ca (South Simcoe)
- Rick.Sargent@LocalRadio.ca (Bolton)
If you’d like to get ahold of me personally, shoot me a message at Cameron.Wilkinson@LocalRadio.ca. We’re in the business of content creation, so no idea is a bad idea.
