Over 18,000 suspension orders issued to Waterloo region elementary students over vaccination records

Region of Waterloo Public Health has issued suspension orders to 18,643 elementary school students who have not updated their vaccination records.

Families have six weeks to update vaccination records, obtain the necessary vaccines or apply for an exemption before the suspension orders take effect on March 27. 

Secondary students may face suspension starting May 1.

Public health says that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decline in vaccine coverage rates in school-aged children, including for routine shots for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, meningococcal, pertussis (whooping cough) and varicella (chickenpox).

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's medical officer of health, said vaccines are necessary to stop the spread of "serious and preventable disease."

"Children who are not vaccinated are at increased risk of getting infections and spreading diseases to others. The enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils Act is critical for ensuring the health and well-being of our community," Wang said in a release.

In November and December, public health said, about 22,000 elementary students and 10,000 secondary students did not have up-to-date records. Public health ran catch-up clinics to help families get the vaccinations they needed to update their records. In some cases, the students had their vaccines and just needed to update their records with public health.

All elementary and secondary students are required to provide proof of vaccination under the Immunization of School Pupils Act. For students requiring an exemption from vaccination, a medical or non-medical exemption form must be submitted to public health.