Monday, February 07, 2011
Health Unit asks for parents’ help to update immunization records
The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit is undertaking a 2 year project to update all immunization records of children and youth in schools within the tri-county area. Parents are required to submit proof of their child’s immunization or medical exemption to the Health Unit under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, 1990. This information helps the Health Unit to identify at-risk children in situations where an outbreak caused by a communicable disease has been declared.
The Health Unit is asking parents to please check their child’s yellow immunization card to see if the child’s immunization is up-to-date, or contact their health care provider if they have concerns about missing information. If a child’s record is not up-to-date with the Health Unit, an Immunization Program Questionnaire letter will be mailed to the parents. This does not mean that the child has not been immunized but rather, that the Health Unit has no record of the immunization.
If parents do not respond to the Immunization Program Questionnaire by the deadline specified on the letter, their child may be suspended from school until the necessary information is provided.
The Health Unit obtains immunization information by:
Parents giving information to the Health Unit when they register their child to attend school and after their booster shots.
Requesting grade 2 student records showing their 4-6 year booster shots.
Over the next 2 years the Health Unit will be reviewing approximately ten thousand records for missing immunization information. The Health Unit will be focusing on high school aged children this spring as it is important for these students to have up-to-date immunization information for their college and university admission requirements.
For more information please contact the Health Unit at 613-345-5685, 1-800-660-5853 or visit www.healthunit.org/immunization.
Contact:
Susan Healey, Communications Co-ordinator 613-345-5685 or 613-802-0550 or Rebecca Kavanagh, Manager of Clinical Services, 613-283-2740
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